Spatial distribution and determinant factors of intimate partner violence among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia: Using generalized structural equation modeling

Abstract

Introduction Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is the most serious and pervasive yet under-recognized human rights violation in the world, particularly in Ethiopia. Hence, the objective of this study was to find the spatial distribution of IPV and its determinant factors in Ethiopia. Methods Secondary data analysis was conducted among 2,687 reproductive age group women (15–49 years). The distribution of IPV across the country was observed by ArcGIS software. In SaTScan software, the Bernoulli model was fitted by Kulldorff methods to identify the purely spatial clusters of IPV. Besides, Generalized Structural Equation Model (GSEM) was used to determine factors associated with each domain of IPV (physical, emotional & sexual violence). Result The spatial distribution of IPV was found to be clustered in Ethiopia with Global Moran’s I 0.09 (p < 0.001), and the highest IPV cluster was observed in Oromia (p < 0.001), Somali (p < 0.001) and SNNP (p<0.001) regions. Watching television and not having attitudes toward wife beating were negatively associated with physical violence. Being rich and nonsmoker were inversely associated with emotional violence. The odds of experiencing sexual violence were high among pregnant women and wives of uneducated husbands/partners. In addition, women’s decision-making autonomy and husband/partner drinking alcohol have positive and negative associations with all domains of IPV respectively. Conclusion There was a significant clustering of IPV in Ethiopia and the highest IPV cluster was observed in Oromia, Somali and SNNP regions. Being rich, watching television, not having attitudes toward wife beating, women’s decision-making autonomy, and husband’s/partner’s high education and non-alcohol drinker status were negatively associated with IPV. The likelihood of experiencing IPV was also high among smokers and pregnant women. Thus, we recommend that improving the economic status of the household through social protection and empowerment of women in decision-making autonomy by education and employment and increasing community awareness about the consequences of IPV with particular emphasis on Oromia, Somali and SNNP regions is essential.

Intimate partner violence and malnutrition among women of reproductive age in Western Africa: A geostatistical analysis

“…The lower likelihood of the simultaneous occurrence of IPV and underweight among these women could be due to the complexity of the interplay of different factors acting together to either protect or expose women to IPV and undernutrition. For women living in urban areas, greater autonomy [30] and the lesser influence of cultural norms and expectations around gender roles in the urban environment provides an escape from vices such as IPV. This notwithstanding,…”

“…This The results of the spatial models show strong spatial clustering in IPV and undernutrition within and across the West African region. Some studies have shown spatial clustering in IPV in sub-Saharan Africa [35,36] Nigeria [37][38][39][40][41], Ghana [42], Ethiopia [30,43] and South Africa [44] but very few studies have explored the simultaneous occurrence of IPV and PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH undernutrition in similar geographic spaces. The positive linear relationship between IPV and underweight among women in some regions of Mali; all parts of Sierra Leone and Liberia and neighboring Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo as was found in the present study could be because of common contextual/place-based socio-cultural beliefs and practices that perpetuate male dominance and limits women autonomy thus exposing women in these regions to the risk of IPV and undernutrition.…”

Intimate partner violence among women in Togo: a generalised structural equation modeling approach

“…For each item, a woman has participated in household decision-making when she was involved (alone or jointly with a partner or someone else) in all decisions regarding her own healthcare, large household purchases and visits to her family or relatives. 2 Responses were recoded as ‘yes’ or ‘no’.…”

“… 6 Worldwide, around 30% of women aged 15–49 years have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner at least once in their lifetime. 2 7 IPV varies significantly across regions. A lower prevalence of IPV was observed in the Western Pacific (20%), while the prevalence was much higher in the WHO African and South-East Asia regions (33%), 7 due to the high social acceptance of violence and socioeconomic vulnerabilities.…”

“… 21 On the other hand, it is found that women’s participation in household decision-making and no justification for men’s wife-beating by women can be protective against IPV. 2 22 …”