Economic empowerment and intimate partner violence: a secondary data analysis of the cross-sectional Demographic Health Surveys in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been recognized as a defining human rights, development and public health issue of our time. Economic empowerment is one of the most promising interventions to reduce IPV in sub-Saharan Africa, yet the evidence around economic factors that are key to ensure a reduction in IPV are still mixed. Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity on what kinds of economic empowerment works for which population group. This paper seeks a more nuanced understanding, by investigating whether the associations between indicators of economic empowerment and physical and/or sexual IPV are similar between the general population of women and among urban versus rural and young, or middle aged women versus older women. Methods Using couples data from 25 DHS surveys across 15 countries (n = 70,993 women and men aged 15 and above at time of survey), we analyse how household wealth, men’s and women’s education and employment status, decision making on women’s income, differences in education and employment of women and their partners and women’s cash income are associated with physical and/or sexual IPV. We also provide sub-analyses for both urban and rural areas and for women aged, 15 to 24 25 to 34 and 35 to 49. Results Across all surveys, 20% of women reported physical and/or sexual IPV in the last 12 months. On the one hand, our findings reinforced certain well-established patterns between women’s economic empowerment and IPV, with women’s and men’s higher levels of education and increased household wealth associated with a decrease in IPV, and women’s employment, especially if only the woman worked, and women earning more than her partner associated with an increase in IPV. Most patterns did not differ across urban and rural settings and age groups, but notable differences emerged regarding household wealth, women’s and men’s employment in the last 12 months and relative employment and education. Conclusions Factors relating to women’s economic empowerment are vital in understanding and addressing IPV. Our analysis indicate however that future interventions need to consider the differing needs of urban and rural areas as well as be targeted to different age groups.

Intimate partner violence and associated factors among reproductive age women in Liberia: a cross-sectional study using a recent Liberian demographic and health survey

“…Women with education were more likely to face IPV as compared with those with no education. This finding is inconsistent with the studies conducted in Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa [ 14 , 35 ]. The possible reason might be, even though education is important to change an attitude and behavior we cannot conclude that knowing is enough to get the actual intended behavior.…”

Intimate partner violence and associated factors among reproductive age women in Liberia: Further analysis of recent Liberian demographic and health survey

“…Women who were empowered to make decision in all matters were less likely to experience IPV as compared with women who have no decision making autonomy. This nding is in line with the studies done in Zimbabwe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and India (13,24,34). The possible reason might be women who have a decision making power are empowered to decide on important issues and may protect their right.…”

“…Women with education were more likely to face IPV as compared with those with no education. This nding is inconsistent with the studies conducted in Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa (13,31). The possible reason might be, even though education is important to change an attitude and behavior we cannot conclude that knowing is enough to get the actual intended behavior.…”

“…The possible reason might be women who have a decision making power are empowered to decide on important issues and may protect their right. Empowered women might more likely use media which may increase her awareness on social and gender issues and may change her attitude (13). Empowered women have a greater self-esteem control over their own lives and their surrounding environment ,as a result she will have a low probability of being exposed to IPV (37) .…”

“…IPV has mental and physical health consequences on women, particularly it leads to depressive symptoms, loss of social and professional networks (7)(8)(9) Intimate partner violence is a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (10,11). Many studies done on intimate partner violence had identi ed factors like age of the women, educational status of the women, residence, husbands education, working status of the women and the partner, media exposure, alcohol abuse by the partner, wealth index and polygynous marriage were factors that in uence the practice of Intimate partner violence (12)(13)(14)(15). The life time prevalence of intimate partner violence among ever married women has increased from 49% in 2013 to 60% in 2019/20 (16).Sexual violence and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women has been a predominant problem in Liberia during the era of Liberia's civil war as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic (17).…”