Women decision-making capacity and intimate partner violence among women in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

BackgroundViolence against women is a common form of human rights violation, and intimate partner violence (IPV) appears to be the most significant component of violence. The aim of this study was to examine the association between women decision-making capacity and IPV among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study also looked at how socio-demographic factors also influence IPV among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsThe study made use of pooled data from most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted from January 1, 2010, and December 3, 2016, in 18 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. For the purpose of the study, only women aged 15–49 were used (N = 84,486). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between the explanatory variables and the outcome variable.ResultsThe odds of reporting ever experienced IPV was higher among women with decision-making capacity [AOR = 1.35; CI = 1.35–1.48]. The likelihood of experiencing IPV was low among young women. Women who belong to other religious groups and Christians were more likely to experience IPV compared to those who were Muslims [AOR = 1.73; CI = 1.65–1.82] and [AOR = 1.87; CI = 1.72–2.02] respectively. Women who have partners with no education [AOR = 1.11; CI = 1.03–1.20], those whose partners had primary education [AOR = 1.34; CI = 1.25–1.44] and those whose partners had secondary education [AOR = 1.22; CI = 1.15–1.30] were more likely to IPV compared to those whose partners had higher education. The odds of experiencing IPV were high among women who were employed compared to those who were unemployed [AOR = 1.33; CI = 1.28–1.37]. The likelihood of the occurrence of IPV was also high among women who were cohabiting compared to those who were married [AOR = 1.16; CI = 1.10–1.21]. Women with no education [AOR = 1.37; CI = 1.24–1.51], those with primary education [AOR = 1.65; CI = 1.50–1.82] and those with secondary education [AOR = 1.50; CI = 1.37–1.64] were more likely to experience IPV compared to those with higher education. Finally, women with poorest wealth status [AOR = 1.28; CI = 1.20–1.37], those with poorer wealth status [AOR = 1.24; CI = 1.17–1.32], those with middle wealth status [AOR = 1.27; CI = 1.20–1.34] and those with richer wealth status [AOR = 1.11; CI = 1.06–1.17] were more likely to IPV compared to women with richest wealth status.ConclusionThough related socio-demographic characteristics and women decision-making capacity provided an explanation of IPV among women in sub-Saharan Africa, there were differences in relation to how each socio-demographic variable predisposed women to IPV in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Magnitude of Intimate Partner Violence and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in Ethiopia

“…Women who accept any form of violence by intimate partners by justifying reasons were 1.9 times more likely to have experienced violence compared to those who did not accept violence by justifying reasons. is is consistent with the findings in Nepal [35] and the Demographic and Health Survey conducted from six African countries [33]. e possible reason might be due to the socioculture of the community norms that privilege gives higher status to men and lower status to women and considered IPV as normal, and this may increase violence.…”

“…is is supported by the findings from South Africa and the Demographic and Health Survey in sub-Saharan African countries [30,33]. e possible explanation could be that the married ones understand each other and are more likely to compromise on certain issues which brings less conflict in their homes.…”

“…Advances in Public Health likely to experience IPV compared to those who did not have decision-making capacity in the household issues [33]. e possible explanation for this might be women who are more empowered are able to fight for their rights and will not accept men to fully dictate to them, which could result in violence.…”

Correlates of intimate partner violence among urban women in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Other adjusted variables were the age, level of education, and occupation of the responding women's spouses or partners, the household wealth and union types of the women. Previous studies [8,16,27,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] have linked the selected explanatory variables to IPV in a variety of contexts. Operational definitions of all outcome and explanatory variables are presented in Table 2.…”

R.E.S.P.e.c.T and intimate partner violence: a cross-sectional study using DHS data in Kenya

“…A multi-country study in 46 low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) using wealth quintiles found that poorer women were more vulnerable to IPV (23). Studies on the relationship between poverty and IPV have similar ndings (16,24). The R.E.S.P.T framework aims to tackle this multifaceted problem with a multifaceted solution, aiming strategies at several risk and protective factors simultaneously.…”