Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence: a study of female victims in Malawi

Abstract

Abstract:Background:The term “intimate partner violence” (IPV) encompasses physical, sexual and psychological violence, or any combination of these acts, and globally is the most common type of violence against women. This study aims to examine the lifetime prevalence of different types of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Malawi women ages 15 to 49, and its association with age, education, and living in rural versus urban areas. Methods:Data was obtained from a cross-sectional study of data as part of the 2004 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. Women were eligible for the study if they met the following criteria: 1) lived in one of the 15,041 households randomly selected from 522 rural and urban clusters located in 10 large districts of Malawi; 2) were married or cohabitating; and 3) were between the ages of 15 and 49 years. Consenting, eligible women responded to a comprehensive questionnaire covering demographic factors, health issues, as well as items related to physical, emotional and sexual IPV. To assess bivariate associations, chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted. Results:Among the 8291 respondents, 13% reported emotional violence; 20% reported being pushed, shaken, slapped or punched; 3% reported experiencing severe violence, such as being strangled or burned, threatened with a knife, gun or with another weapon; and 13% reported sexual violence. Data showed women ages 15 to 19 were significantly less likely to report emotional IPV, women ages 25 to 29 were significantly more likely to report being pushed or shaken, slapped or punched (OR 1.35; CI: 1.05-1.73), and women ages 30 to 34 were significantly more likely to report sexual IPV, compared to women ages 45 to 49 (OR 1.40; CI: 1.03-1.90). Finally, women who had no ability to read were less likely to report sexual IPV than their counterparts who could read a full sentence (OR 0.76; CI: 0.66-0.87).Conclusions:The prevalence of different types of IPV in Malawi appears slightly lower than that reported for other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Further studies are needed to assess the attitudes and behaviors of Malawi women towards acceptability and justification of IPV as well as their willingness to disclose it.

Violência contra mulheres em diferentes estágios do ciclo de vida no Brasil: um estudo exploratório

“…19 Women with low levels of education reported a greater physical aggression victimization in comparison with women with higher educational levels; however, there was not a statistically significant difference. 1,2,5,10,19 It is probable that women with a higher level of education have more access to information and resources, and as such, are less tolerant of a relationship marked by abusive situations. 10 Or, because of the fear of reporting, the possibility exists that many cases are underreported.…”

“…1,2,5,10,19 It is probable that women with a higher level of education have more access to information and resources, and as such, are less tolerant of a relationship marked by abusive situations. 10 Or, because of the fear of reporting, the possibility exists that many cases are underreported. 19 identified that having up to eight years of schooling was one of the factors associated with the occurrence of violence by an intimate partner.…”

“…11,12 If the sociodemographic characteristics of the victims of violence and the aggressors are not taken into consideration, intervention proposals to minimize the resulting consequences of this social phenomenon cannot be effective. 10 There are few studies in the literature about violence against women that deal with the differences in victimization in accordance with the cycles of life, using Police records as a data source. 4,13 Information relative to the distribution of violence against women and the identification of the most vulnerable populations can substantially contribute to the direction of efforts destined for the creation of public policy related to surveillance, criminalization, prevention, social assistance, and rehabilitation.…”

“…Therefore, integrative and participatory community approaches can facilitate the incorporation of voices and perspectives of women in programs aimed at reducing intimate partner violence. 10 Different theoretical models can be used with the purpose of understanding why violence occurs in intimate relationships. Psychopathological models, sociological system theories of gender and family can be cited.…”

Socioeconomic status, social relations and domestic violence (DV) against elderly people in Canada, Albania, Colombia and Brazil

“…Those who report being the victims of physical violence are more likely to experience incontinence, anxiety, sleeping problems, and stress (Bonomi et al, 2007;Hadeed & El-Bassel, 2006). With few exceptions, most research in older adults has been carried out in North America and Europe (Acierno et al, 2010;Bazargan-Hejazi, Medeiros, Mohammadi, Lin, & Dalal, 2013;Bonomi et al, 2007;Chen, Rovi, Vega, Jacobs, & Johnson, 2005;Hadeed & El-Bassel, 2006;Montero et al, 2013;Stö ckl et al, 2012;Weeks & LeBlanc, 2011;Yan & Chan, 2012), with few studies conducted in Latin American settings such as Colombia and Brazil (Abath, Leal, Filho, & Marques, 2010;Espíndola & Blay, 2007;Jú nior, 2010;Minayo, 2003).…”