Social Inequalities, Empowerment, and Women’s Transitions into Abusive Marriages

Miedema, S.; Shwe, San; Kyaw, Aye

doi:10.1177/0891243216642394

Cited by 26 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…It is possible that women are more vulnerable to Table 1 Prevalence of mental distress a and median HSCL-10 score by socio-demographic and selected health-related factors among men and women 18-49-year-old citizens of Yangon Region, Myanmar (Continued) the socio-cultural risks, for example, a cultural belief that men have higher status relative to women, which have led to more depression among women [35,37,38]. In Myanmar, men have a dominated role as head of household, primary breadwinner and legal representative of the family [39]. Furthermore, women carry a heavier burden of household responsibility than men and that may predispose them to an increased risk of mental distress, for example, when the household has economic problems [35,38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence of mental distress and the association with education: a cross-sectional study of 18-49-year-old citizens of Yangon Region, Myanmar

et al. 2020

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Background: Poor mental health is an important contributor to the global burden of disease. Mental health problems are often neglected in communities, and are scarcely studied in developing countries, including Myanmar. This study estimates the prevalence of mental distress by socio-demographic and health related factors, and the association between education and mental distress. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first population-based study in Myanmar estimating the prevalence of mental distress. Methods: Between October and November 2016, a cross sectional study was conducted using a multi-stage sampling design with face-to-face interviews using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10) for mental distress (symptoms of depression and anxiety). The multivariable analysis strategy was based on Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs), to identify confounders, mediators and colliders. Pearson's chi-square was used for testing differences between proportions and multiple linear regression analysis was applied to explore the association between education (years at school) and mental distress (HSCL score). Results: A random sample of 2391 (99.6% response) men and women aged 18-49 years participated in the study. The prevalence of mental distress was 18.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 14.7-21.9), being higher among women (21.2%; 95% (CI): 16.6-26.6) than men (14.9%; 95% (CI): 11.4-19.2). Older-age, being separated or divorced and having a higher number of children were associated with increased mental distress. In linear regression analyses, adjusted for confounders (age, marital status and income), there was a significant negative association between years at school and mental distress among women and older men (> 30 years), but not among the youngest men. Conclusions: The prevalence of mental distress is high, and there is an association between HSCL-10 score and education. Due to the scarcity of mental health services in Myanmar, the findings indicate a need for a mental health policy to handle the burden of mental health problems in Yangon, a burden which is probably high within the country.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence of mental distress and the association with education: a cross-sectional study of 18-49-year-old citizens of Yangon Region, Myanmar

et al. 2020

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“…A qualitative study among married Myanmar women stated that there are inequitable power relations within marriages in Myanmar society. According to this study, this resulted in practices of controlling behaviour by husbands regarding women’s social relations, economic resources and sexual agency; which then led to a high level of spousal violence among married women [ 11 ]. These authors suggested that the factor of ‘husband’s controlling behaviour’ should be highlighted in the prevention efforts regarding spousal abuse.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spousal violence against women and its association with sociodemographic factors and husbands’ controlling behaviour: the findings of Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (2015–2016)

Tun

Östergren

2020

Global Health Action

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Background: Spousal violence is the most common domestic violence against women and a growing public health problem globally. As a behaviour, marital control is commonly accepted as a precursor to spousal violence. Objective: This study examines the prevalence of different types of spousal violence among women in Myanmar and their association with sociodemographic factors and husbands' controlling behaviour. Methods: This study used data from the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) 2015-2016. Based on the responses of 3,425 ever-married women, cross-tabulations (Chisquared test) and multivariate logistic regressions were applied to examine the association between controlling behaviour by husbands and lifetime physical, sexual and emotional spousal violence against Myanmar women. Synergy factor and population attributable fraction were estimated to recommend preventive strategies. Results: The prevalence of lifetime physical violence was 16.8%, of sexual violence 3.8%, of emotional violence 15.9%, and of husband's controlling behaviour 30.2%. Women who were exposed to controlling behaviour by their husbands reported higher likelihoods of lifetime physical spousal violence (OR = 3.7; 95% CI: 3.0-4.7), lifetime sexual spousal violence (OR = 5.3; 95% CI: 3.3-8.6), and lifetime emotional spousal violence (OR = 5.6; 95% CI: 4.4-7.2). Controlling behaviour by husbands was attributed to 22.0% of lifetime physical spousal violence; and to 24.5% of lifetime sexual spousal violence and to 24.8% of lifetime emotional spousal violence in this sample of Myanmar women. Additional associated factors of spousal violence were poor wealth status, women's wife-beating justification, exposure to parental violence, and alcohol abuse among husbands. Conclusion: Controlling behaviour by husbands was significantly associated with higher likelihoods of lifetime spousal violence among ever-married Myanmar women in this study. These findings reflect an obvious need for policy development and preventive strategies against marital controlling behaviour in Myanmar.

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“…However, evidence on whether co-occurrence and intergenerational cycles of violence vary based on pivotal child and maternal events and life stages is limited. Yet, children experience age-dependent risks of child abuse, and a woman's transition through key life events, such as marriage and childbirth, are central to her and her children's health and wellbeing, including risk of IPV ( Administration for Children and Families, 2021 ; Miedema, Shwe, & Kyaw, 2016 , Yount et al, 2018 ; Yount et al, 2016 ). In low-income settings, 1 research on developmental stage specific intersections between child abuse and IPV can help to guide practitioners and policymakers toward priority opportunities for violence prevention.…”

Section: Author Notementioning

confidence: 99%

Women's intergenerational intimate partner violence and household child abuse in Burma (Myanmar)

Miedema

Kyaw

2022

SSM - Population Health

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Intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse are prevalent in Burma (Myanmar). However, gaps exist in our understanding of intergenerational cycles and co-occurrence of violence, and whether patterns of violence vary by women and children's life course transitions and developmental stages. Using data from the 2015–2016 Demographic and Health Survey, we estimated structural equation models to evaluate the pathways between women's exposure to IPV perpetrated by her father against her mother (maternal abuse), her own past-year experiences of IPV, attitudes toward IPV, and household child discipline practices. We ran stratified analyses by women's age at first birth and child's age to assess whether intergenerational cycles and co-occurrence of violence in the household vary by pivotal life events and development stages. Maternal abuse was directly and indirectly associated with women's past-year exposure to physical and/or sexual IPV and children's exposure to physical or emotional child abuse by a caregiver in the household. Stratified models indicated significant intergenerational cycles of IPV and co-occurrence of IPV and child abuse among women who experienced first childbirth before age 23, and among women living with older children. We conclude that synchronized efforts to prevent violence against women and violence against children are integral to addressing cyclical and co-occurring patterns of violence in Burma (Myanmar). Violence prevention efforts might consider developmental stage and life course factors that may intensify risk of intergenerational violence.

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Social Inequalities, Empowerment, and Women’s Transitions into Abusive Marriages

Cited by 26 publications

References 40 publications

The prevalence of mental distress and the association with education: a cross-sectional study of 18-49-year-old citizens of Yangon Region, Myanmar

The prevalence of mental distress and the association with education: a cross-sectional study of 18-49-year-old citizens of Yangon Region, Myanmar

Spousal violence against women and its association with sociodemographic factors and husbands’ controlling behaviour: the findings of Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (2015–2016)

Women's intergenerational intimate partner violence and household child abuse in Burma (Myanmar)

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