Socio-economic inequalities in intimate partner violence justification among women in Ghana: analysis of the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data

Abstract

Background One of the key reasons for the high prevalence of intimate partner violence among women is the justification of intimate partner violence. Socio-economic status of women plays a key role in intimate partner violence justification. This study investigated the socio-economic inequalities in the justification of intimate partner violence among Ghanaian women. Methods Data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey were used in this study. The study involved a total of 9267 women. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the socio-economic disparities in intimate partner violence justification. The findings were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) demonstrating precision. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results The prevalence of intimate partner violence justification among women in Ghana was 28.2%. Compared with women with no formal of education, those with a higher level of education (aOR 0.17 [95% CI 0.10 to 0.30]) were less likely to justify intimate partner violence. In terms of wealth status, women in the richest quintile had lower odds of justifying intimate partner violence compared with women in the poorest wealth quintile (aOR 0.44 [95% CI 0.28 to 0.67]). Conclusions Interventions, policies, strategies and programs such as women's equitable access to formal education, formation of stronger social networks to improve women's socio-economic status, advocacy to stop intimate partner violence and empowerment interventions among women should be focused toward contextualizing intimate partner violence in terms of the acceptance of this behaviour, since this can play a significant role in victimization and perpetration.

Prevalence, Correlates, and Trends of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Gambia: Results From 2 National Cross-Sectional Health Surveys

“…9,10 Plethora of IPV correlates have been reported using DHS and other data: these include gender-based power differentials with women experiencing limited empowerment and autonomy in terms of making or contributing to personal or household decisions, acceptance of IPV, low educational attainment by women or her partner, alcohol use by the partner, age of women, age of partner, and marital control displayed by the partner. 11-18…”

“…Hence, the mediating framework underpinning IPV perpetrated by men against women include women’s economic dependence on their male intimate partner; physical power imbalance with resultant limited ability to defend and respond; household poverty leading to family disputes and threatening traditional male role as a provider; low educational attainment in both partners with no or limited understanding the effects of IPV on the victim and acceptance of such behavior, alcohol use by male partner with resultant low inhibitions to violence, intergenerational witnessing and acceptance of IPV; limited autonomy in terms of making household and personal decisions; number of children: more children impacting family’s economic status, and infertility contributing to family and societal expectations to procreate; age of women: with older age accentuating economic dependence on male partner and younger age with limited ability to manage family affairs; and patriarchal societies dictating and perpetuating sociocultural norms reinforcing gender inequality, low empowerment and autonomy of women. 1-7,9-18…”

“…9,10 Plethora of IPV correlates have been reported using DHS and other data: these include genderbased power differentials with women experiencing limited empowerment and autonomy in terms of making or contributing to personal or household decisions, acceptance of IPV, low educational attainment by women or her partner, alcohol use by the partner, age of women, age of partner, and marital control displayed by the partner. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Hence, the mediating framework underpinning IPV perpetrated by men against women include women's economic dependence on their male intimate partner; physical power imbalance with resultant limited ability to defend and respond; household poverty leading to family disputes and threatening traditional male role as a provider; low educational attainment in both partners with no or limited understanding the effects of IPV on the victim and acceptance of such behavior, alcohol use by male partner with resultant low inhibitions to violence, intergenerational witnessing and acceptance of IPV; limited autonomy in terms of making household and personal decisions; number of children: more children impacting family's economic status, and infertility contributing to family and societal expectations to procreate; age of women: with older age accentuating economic dependence on male partner and younger age with limited ability to manage family affairs; and patriarchal societies dictating and perpetuating sociocultural norms reinforcing gender inequality, low empowerment and autonomy of women. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Situated in the West Africa, the Republic of the Gambia is the smallest country in terms of land size in the mainland Africa.…”

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

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to interparental violence is a substantial predictor of IPV justification in a variety of circumstances [1,12,13]. There is evidence that women's socioeconomic status (wealth index and education level) influences how women justify IPV [14]. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Aboagye et al [12] found that women who had been subjected to interparental violence were more likely to justify IPV than those who had not been subjected.…”

“…In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Aboagye et al [12] found that women who had been subjected to interparental violence were more likely to justify IPV than those who had not been subjected. In Ghana, Adu [14] found that women with higher education levels and those who were wealthier were less likely to defend intimate partner abuse.…”