Risk Markers for Victimization and Perpetration of Male-to-Female Physical Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) incurs significant public health consequences. Understanding risk markers can accelerate prevention and response efforts, important in settings like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where resources are scarce. In this study, four databases were searched to identify studies that examined risk markers for male-to-female physical IPV. With application of the socioecological model, we analyzed 11 risk markers for male physical IPV perpetration (with 71 effect sizes) and 16 risk markers for female physical IPV victimization (with 131 effect sizes) in SSA from 51 studies. For male IPV perpetration, we found medium-to-large effect sizes for six risk markers: perpetrating emotional abuse and sexual IPV, witnessing parental IPV, being abused as a child, cohabitating (not married), and exhibiting controlling behaviors. We found small effect sizes for substance use. Employment, age, marital status, and education were not significant risk markers. For female IPV victimization, a medium effect size was found for post-traumatic stress symptoms. Small effect sizes were found for reporting depressive symptoms, being abused as a child, witnessing parental IPV, and reporting drug and alcohol use. Rural residence, approval of violence, length of relationship, income, education, employment, age, marital status, and religiosity were not significant risk markers. Findings highlight opportunities for screening and intervention at the couple level, show the need to test and incorporate interventions for IPV in mental health treatment, and emphasize the importance of further research on sociodemographic risk markers and the interventions that target them.

Expanding knowledge of intergenerational violence in the Philippines. A commentary on Kim et al. (2023)

“…Further, those who witnessed IPV were more likely to report the combination of IPV victimization and perpetration than to report either victimization or perpetration alone. These findings align with prior research documenting witnessing IPV in parental relationships as a key risk factor for women's victimization from IPV in adulthood, in sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, and South Asia ( Ackerson & Subramanian, 2009 ; Fry et al, 2012 ; Mootz et al, 2022 ; Stake et al, 2020 ). It also extends prior research that demonstrates an association between witnessing parental IPV as a girl and using IPV (i.e., perpetration) as an adult woman, an area of inquiry that has largely been limited to studies from high income countries (HICs) or on male perpetration alone in low and middle income country (LMIC) contexts ( Fonseka et al, 2015 ; Islam et al, 2017 ; Kimber et al, 2018 ).…”

Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration in Adolescents and Young Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

“…Combined, these findings align with calls to clarify the link between mental health and IPV outcomes (Stark et al, 2023) and support is growing. In the aforementioned meta-analysis, PTSD and depression were among the strongest risk markers for IPV victimization (Mootz et al, 2022).…”

“…Even so, the actual strength of SES factors is not clear. A meta-analysis of risk markers of physical IPV victimization and perpetration among adults in SSA found demographic factors were not significantly associated with either outcome (Mootz et al, 2022).…”

“…Related existing reviews describe the family- and peer-level risk and protective factors related to victimization of dating violence globally (Hébert et al, 2019), risk factors for IPV victimization among pregnant women in Africa (Shamu et al, 2011), and risk markers for male-to-female physical IPV among adults in SSA (Mootz et al, 2022). This review is the first to synthesize literature related to IPV victimization and perpetration among AYA in SSA, a critical age group and a high prevalence region.…”

Engaging Mozambican men in a couple-based therapy to reduce intimate partner violence and improve mental health: Community stakeholders’ perspectives

“…A meta-analysis of 207 studies examined mental health indicators of IPV and found that common mental disorders and antisocial and borderline personality disorder were associated with both perpetration and victimization ( Spencer et al, 2019 ). Our team conducted a meta-analysis of 51 studies from sub-Saharan Africa to identify risk markers for IPV ( Mootz et al, 2022 ). For men, there were small effect sizes for IPV perpetration and substance use and medium to large effect sizes for witnessing parental IPV and being abused as a child, potential indicators of other mental health struggles ( Wathen and MacMillan, 2013 ).…”