Individual and community-level risk factors of women’s acceptance of intimate partner violence in Ethiopia: multilevel analysis of 2011 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey

Abstract

Background The prevalence of Intimate partner violence (IPV) is higher in societies with higher acceptance of norms that support IPV. In Ethiopia, the proportion of women’s acceptance of IPV was 69%, posing a central challenge in preventing IPV. The main objective of this study was to assess the individual and community-level factors associated with women’s acceptance of IPV. Methods Two-level mixed-effects logistic regression was applied to the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data. A total of 16,366 women nested in the 596 clusters were included in the analysis. Results The acceptability of the IPV was estimated to be 69%. Among the individual-level factors: women’s education with secondary and above (AOR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.29–0.52), partner’s education secondary and above (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI 0.54–0.82), women aged 35–49 years (AOR = 0.67; 95% CI 0.54–0.82), fully empowered in household level decision making (AOR = 0.67; 95% CI0.54–0.81), literate (AOR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.62–0.92), and perceived existence of law that prevents IPV (AOR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.50–0.63) were significantly associated with women’s acceptance of IPV. Similarly, rural residence (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI 1.53–2.43) and living in the State region (AOR = 2.37; 95% CI 1.81–3.10) were significantly associated with the women’s acceptance of IPV among the community-level factors. Conclusion Both individual and community-level factors were significant risk factors for the acceptability of intimate partner violence. Women's education, women's age, women’s empowerment, partner education level, perceived existence of the law, and literacy were among individual factors. State region and residence were among community-level risk factors significantly associated women’s acceptance of IPV.

Multilevel analysis of factors for intimate partner violence during pregnancy in Gammo Goffa Zone, South Ethiopia: A community based study

“…In this study, the likelihood of experiencing IPV during pregnancy was higher among women with low autonomy. This finding is supported by evidence from other studies ( 15 , 37 , 43 ). However, this finding is in contrast to the findings of other studies conducted in African countries, where empowered women were more likely to experience IPV compared to their counterparts ( 44 , 45 ).…”

“…Moreover, making women autonomous is one of the preventive factors against IPV. Women with high autonomy (empowered women) can negotiate for their rights and do not accept men's dominance, which could possibly serve as a means to prevent the occurrence of IPV during pregnancy ( 43 ). The current finding further suggests advocating for the prevention of IPV against women that may occur due to low autonomy.…”

Prevalence and its predictors of intimate partner violence against pregnant women amid COVID-19 pandemic in Southwest Ethiopia, 2021: A cross-sectional study

“…So, the higher prevalence of IPV reported in this study explains that women who lived in rural areas were more likely to be exposed to various misconceptions held by the community that accepts violence against women as a norm and practiced. 61,62 On the other hand, the prevalence of IPV among pregnant women in this study was lower than studies conducted in Ethiopia like Abay Chomen district (44.5%), 63 Bale zone (59%), 64 and Awi zone (78%). 65 It was also lower than a study done in Kuwait (71%).…”

“…73 This explains that illiterate women may not have the knowledge regarding law enforcement toward legal legislations to fully use their rights, available health services, and refuse harmful societal norms/ taboos. 61,62,74 Besides, illiterate husbands may not aware of the consequences of violent behavior, unable to develop a compromising and caring behavior, and consider violence against women as a norm due to their poor knowledge about the legal rights of their wife/partners. As a result, women being illiterate and having illiterate husbands were more likely to be subjected to IPV as compared to those women who had attended secondary and above education, and had secondary and above educated husbands.…”

Does Childhood Experience of Interparental Abuse Shape Women’s Attitude Toward Intimate Partner Violence in Their Adult Life? Evidence From 31 Developing Countries

“…The outcome variable in this study is the acceptance of violence, which reflects on respondents’ perceptions of violence. This factor has been evaluated in several previous studies (Ali & Watson, 2020; Atomssa et al, 2021) and is considered a significant risk factor for IPV (Amir-ud-Din et al, 2021).…”