Association between intimate partner violence and nutritional status of married Nepalese women

Abstract

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is physical, sexual, or psychological harm perpetrated by a spouse or an intimate partner. Its detrimental effects on women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health are well-documented. However, its impact on nutritional status is not well-studied, and previous studies have led to contradictory findings. This study aimed to explore the association between intimate partner violence and the nutritional status of married Nepalese women. Methods The study used the 2016 Nepal Demographic Health Survey data, which employed a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale to determine women’s exposure to IPV. Anemia and low body mass index (BMI) were used as proxies of nutritional status. Multinomial regression was used to analyze the relationship between BMI and IPV; multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association between anemia and IPV. Results The prevalence of underweight, overweight/obesity, and anemia were respectively 13.9%, 25.1%, and 38.7%. The prevalence of physical, sexual, and emotional IPVs experienced in the preceding year were respectively 9.8%, 4.6%, and 7.6%. Likewise, the prevalence of lifetime physical, sexual, emotional, and controlling behavior IPVs were respectively 21.8%, 7.4%, 12.3%, and 32.1%. The low intensity of emotional IPV (AOR 1.62; CI: 1.02–2.56) and moderate intensity of physical IPV (AOR 3.70; CI: 1.64–8.35) experienced in the preceding year, and low intensity of lifetime emotional IPV (AOR 1.69; CI: 1.11–2.58) were associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity. Moderate intensity of sexual IPV (AOR 2.59; CI: 1.099–6.108) experienced in the preceding year was associated with an increased risk of underweight BMI. The low intensity of lifetime controlling behavior (AOR1.25; CI: 1.03–1.53) was associated with an increased risk of anemia. Conclusions Emotional and Physical IPVs are significantly associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity. Sexual IPV is significantly associated with an increased risk of underweight BMI, and controlling behavior is significantly associated with an increased risk of anemia. Seeking help could offset the detrimental effects of IPV; therefore, IPV screening should be a part of regular healthcare assessment for married women, and appropriate rehabilitation should be offered to IPV survivors.

Factors associated with non-help-seeking among women victims of physical or sexual intimate partner violence in Peru: Findings from the National Demographic and Family Health Survey, 2017 to 2019

“…On the other hand, to ensure that the sample evaluated has been categorized as a victim of physical or sexual IPV, we used the definition of the DHS conceptual framework, the operationalization of which has been reported in previous studies (Burgos-Muñoz et al, 2021, pp. 2015–2017; Chaudhary et al, 2022). Furthermore, the operationalization can be reviewed in Supplemental Material 1 (Table S1).…”

“…The following independent variables were considered: age in years (18-29 [youth], and 30-49 [adults]), educational level (primary or less, secondary, and higher), ethnicity (Mestizo, Quechua, Negro/Moreno/Zambo, and other ethnic groups), wealth quintile (fifth [richest], fourth [rich], third [middle], second [poor], and first [poorest]), natural region of residence (Lima metropolitan, coast without Lima, mountains and jungle), area of residence (urban and rural), educational level of the couple (primary or less, secondary, and higher), alcohol consumption by the partner (never, and sometimes or frequent). In addition, we considered the history of physical or sexual violence during pregnancy (no and yes) and the severity of the violence (mild, moderate, severe) according to what was reported in previous DHS studies (Chaudhary et al, 2022). The operationalization of the severity of violence variable can be consulted in Supplemental Material 1 (Table S1 and S2).…”

Association between intimate partner violence and nutritional status among Indian women: a latent class analysis approach

“…For instance, a study conducted in Bangladesh found that women exposed to physical and/or sexual IPV were at nearly 40% greater risk of being underweight than those unexposed [ 15 ]. In Nepal, women who experienced sexual IPV were 2.6 times more likely to be underweight [ 16 ]. In contrast, studies from Egypt, Nigeria, and the United States have shown that experiencing IPV was associated with increased body mass index (BMI) of women [ 17 – 19 ].…”