Intimate partner violence against married and cohabiting women in sub-Saharan Africa: does sexual autonomy matter?

Aboagye, Richard Gyan; Dadzie, Louis Kobina; Arthur-Holmes, Francis; Okyere, Joshua; Agbaglo, Ebenezer; Seidu, Abdul‐Aziz

doi:10.1186/s12978-022-01382-1

Cited by 15 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Characteristics such as financial autonomy and freedom of movement for women indicate a lower probability of suffering physical or sexual IPV [ 43 ], and thus, the promotion of autonomy in these aspects would be beneficial for reducing IPV. Paradoxically, in the literature, it is described that women who present sexual autonomy could have a greater probability of presenting IPV [ 44 ]. This might be explained by the fact that a woman with sexual autonomy could be seen as defiant by opposing coital relationships or fighting for her rights with her partner, who might react violently against her [ 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Paradoxically, in the literature, it is described that women who present sexual autonomy could have a greater probability of presenting IPV [ 44 ]. This might be explained by the fact that a woman with sexual autonomy could be seen as defiant by opposing coital relationships or fighting for her rights with her partner, who might react violently against her [ 44 ]. For this reason, programs for the prevention and fight against IPV must comprehensively address all types of IPV by promoting women’s autonomy and respect for them by their partners within the framework of a culture of respect and equality between people of different genders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Women’s Autonomy and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru: Analysis of a National Health Survey

Barón-Lozada

Basualdo-Meléndez

Vargas-Fernández

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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To assess the association between women’s autonomy and intimate partner violence (IPV) against women of childbearing age. Secondary analysis of the 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES / acronym in Spanish) was carried out. The study population was women aged 15–49 years who are currently married or living with a partner. A Poisson family generalized linear regression model was estimated to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) for the association between women’s autonomy and IPV with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). Data from 18,621 women were analyzed. The highest proportion of women had low autonomy (low: 42%; moderate: 39.2%; high: 18.8%). A prevalence of IPV of 40.1% was found (psychological/verbal: 38.8%; physical: 8.8%; sexual: 2.3%). The adjusted model found that women with a low level of autonomy (aPR: 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01–1.31) had a higher prevalence of IPV compared to women with high autonomy. This association was also found for the specific case of psychological/verbal violence (aPR: 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01–1.31). No association was found between women’s level of autonomy and physical or sexual violence by a partner. Four out of 10 women of childbearing age have experienced IPV in the last 12 months. In general, women with lower levels of autonomy are more likely to present IPV compared to women with high autonomy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s Autonomy and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru: Analysis of a National Health Survey

Barón-Lozada

Basualdo-Meléndez

Vargas-Fernández

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Another argument is that women in wealthy households have more resources at their disposal and are more empowered in their relationships, making them less vulnerable to intimate partner abuse. However, the higher odds of sexual violence among women from affluent households could be that the women were more likely to defy cultural expectations that place them below men in close relationships, especially in the African context where women are not supposed to refuse sex [ 37 ]. Therefore, any attempt by a woman to refuse sex will probably result in violence, as found in our study [ 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the higher odds of sexual violence among women from affluent households could be that the women were more likely to defy cultural expectations that place them below men in close relationships, especially in the African context where women are not supposed to refuse sex [ 37 ]. Therefore, any attempt by a woman to refuse sex will probably result in violence, as found in our study [ 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Partner alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence against women in sexual unions in sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2022

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Introduction Intimate partner violence is increasingly gaining attention as the leading form of violence against women globally, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. Given that substance abuse, especially alcohol consumption has long been associated with aggressive behaviour, emotional abuse, and sexual misconduct, it is surprising that studies on the potential association between partner’s alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence are scarce. The current study seeks to fill this gap in the literature by examining the association between partner’s alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Cross-sectional survey data of 89,229 women aged 15 to 49 in sexual unions from 21 sub-Saharan African countries were pooled from the Demographic and Health Surveys. Percentages with their corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were used to present the results of the prevalence of partner’s alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between partner’s alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence. The regression analysis results were presented using adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% CI. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results The pooled prevalence of partner alcohol consumption was 36.3% [36.0–36.6]. The highest prevalence of partner alcohol consumption was found in Burundi (67.1%) with Mali (3.9%) recording the lowest prevalence. Similarly, the overall prevalence of physical violence, emotional violence, and sexual violence among the women were 19.7% [19.2–20.2], 25.0% [24.5–25.5], and 9.7% [9.3–10.1], respectively. In the pooled data, women whose partners consumed alcohol were more likely to experience physical violence [aOR = 2.37, 95% CI = 2.24–2.50], emotional violence [aOR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.86–2.07], and sexual violence [aOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.89–2.18] compared to those whose partners did not consume alcohol. In all the 21 countries, women whose partners consumed alcohol had higher odds for physical and emotional violence. The odds of sexual violence was higher among women whose partners consumed alcohol compared to their counterparts whose partners did not in 20 countries, except Namibia. Conclusions We found that partner’s alcohol consumption increases women’s likelihood of experiencing physical, emotional, and sexual violence in sub-Saharan Africa. There is the need to implement behavioural change interventions targeted at male partners to reduce alcohol consumption. The findings call for the need to effectively create and organize support networks in addressing intimate partner violence among married and cohabiting women.

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“…IPV variables were derived from the domestic violence model, which used a modified version of the conflict tactics scale to ask questions [33,34]. The questions used to assess physical, emotional, and sexual violence have been published elsewhere in the literature [35][36][37][38][39]. The response options to each of the questions were "never" "often" "sometimes" and "yes, but not in the last 12 months".…”

Section: Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to interparental violence and intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea

et al. 2023

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Introduction Evidence suggests that childhood exposure to interparental violence increases the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) experience or perpetration in adolescence or adulthood. However, it is unclear if exposure to interparental violence increases the risk of IPV among women in Papua New Guinea. This study, therefore, seeks to fill this gap in the literature by examining the association between childhood exposure to interparental violence and IPV among women in Papua New Guinea. Methods We used data from the most recent 2016–18 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. We included 3,512 women in our analyses. Past-year experience of IPV was the outcome variable in this study. Exposure to interparental violence was the key explanatory variable. We used a multilevel binary logistic regression to examine the association between exposure to interparental violence and IPV. Results We found a higher probability of experiencing IPV among women exposed to interparental violence [aOR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.13, 1.86] relative to women who were not exposed. Furthermore, we found that women living in rural areas had a lower likelihood of IPV experience [aOR = O.50, 95% CI = 0.32, 0.80] compared to those in urban settings. Finally, a greater odd of IPV experience was found among women staying in the Highlands Region [aOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.96] compared to those staying in the Southern Region. Conclusion Exposure to interparental violence was found to be significantly associated with IPV among women in Papua New Guinea. The findings of this study suggest the need for proven operational strategies to reduce IPV, such as improving anti-IPV laws in Papua New Guinea. We recommend the development and implementation of intercession strategies to reduce the experience and justification of violence among women exposed to interparental violence. In addition, health professionals should implement counseling and health education initiatives to tackle the consequences of IPV on women's well-being.

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Intimate partner violence against married and cohabiting women in sub-Saharan Africa: does sexual autonomy matter?

Cited by 15 publications

References 38 publications

Women’s Autonomy and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru: Analysis of a National Health Survey

Women’s Autonomy and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru: Analysis of a National Health Survey

Partner alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence against women in sexual unions in sub-Saharan Africa

Exposure to interparental violence and intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea

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