Intimate partner violence in Nepal: Analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health survey 2022

Abstract

IntroductionIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health and human issue of Nepal. IPV has social and economic impacts among women, adolescent girls and the wider societies. In this study we aimed to determine factors associated with intimate partner violence among married women of reproductive age group 15-49 years.MethodsWe conducted secondary data analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022. Intimate partner violence was measured in 3 domains-physical violence, experience of emotional violence and experience of sexual violence. We present categorical variables with percent and 95% confidence interval (CI) and numeric variables with mean and interquartile range. We applied weighted univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with intimate partner violence. The results of logistic regression were presented as odds ratio and their 95% CI.ResultsOf 3853 women, 27.2% had experienced at least one type of violence from their husband or partner. The prevalence of physical violence, emotional violence and sexual violence were 23.2, 12.8 and 7.1% respectively. Higher odds of having physical violence was present in 24-23 years (AOR=1.76 (95%CI: 1.37, 2.29))and 25-49 years (AOR=2.13 (95%CI: 1.58, 2.87)) women compared to 15-24 years women, Dalits (AOR=1.50 (95%CI: 1.11, 2.02)) and Muslims(AOR=3.64 (95%CI: 2.29, 5.82)) and other castes (AOR=2.07 (1.48, 2.90)) compared to brahmin/Chhetri, women experiencing parenteral violence (AOR=2.24 (1.82, 2.77)), women whose husband showed control behavior(AOR=4.00 (95%CI: 3.35, 4.78)), women who were afraid of their partner, unemployed husband(AOR=2.72 (95%CI: 1.45, 5.06)), those without formal education (AOR=1.51 (95%CI: 1.10, 2.06)) compared to secondary or higher education, and women engaged in manual labor (AOR=1.83 (95%CI: 1.06, 3.23)) compared to those with professional/technical/managerial occupation. Higher odds of having emotional violence present in women experiencing parental violence (AOR=1.64 (95%CI: 1.27, 2.09)), unemployed husband (AOR=3.82 (95%CI: 1.89, 7.75)), alcohol consumption by husband (2.56 (2.06, 3.20)), women whose husband showed control behavior (AOR=7.47 (95%CI: 5.91, 9.51)), women afraid of partner (AOR=1.94 (1.51, 2.52)), and women without media exposure (2.34 (95%CI: 1.84, 2.98)). Similarly higher odds of sexual violence was seen among Muslim women (AOR=1.98 (1.03, 3.79)) compared to Brahmins/Chhetri, women from poor wealth quintile (AOR=1.61 (95%CI: 1.12, 2.35)) compared to rich, women experiencing parental violence (AOR=1.83 (95%CI: 1.37, 2.43)), women with basic (AOR=1.47 (1.04, 2.12)) and no formal education (AOR=1.66 (95%CI: 1.08, 2.58)), women whose husband drink alcohol often (2.40 (95%CI: 1.83, 3.16)), women experiencing control behavior from husband (AOR=7.97 (95%CI: 5.81, 11.1)), women afraid of her husband (AOR=3.26 (95%CI: 2.28, 4.76))ConclusionThe prevalence of all forms of violence were higher among reproductive aged Nepalese women. Various sociodemographic factors were associated with increased odds of experiencing different types of violence, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Addressing factors such as age, ethnicity, education, parental violence exposure, and controlling behaviors can contribute to mitigating the alarming rates of IPV in this population.