Exposure to interparental violence and risk of intimate partner violence among women in sexual unions in sub-Saharan Africa

Multilevel determinants of physical violence among ever-partnered women in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Violence against women continues to be a challenge in many countries. Many women suffer physical violence at the hands of their intimate partners and sometimes this leads to their deaths. This study aimed to examine the multilevel determinants of physical violence among ever-partnered women in South Africa.

METHODS

We used data from the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey. The study has a weighted sample size of 4169 ever-partnered women aged 18-49 years, based on the domestic violence module. We included univariate, bivariate and multilevel logistic regression analysis. We included a two-level model to measure the relationship between the selected background characteristics and physical violence.

RESULTS

The prevalence of physical violence among ever-partnered women was 20.6%. The bivariate findings showed that educational status, employment status, witness to inter-parental violence, partner's drinking habits, household wealth, educational difference, and province were statistically associated with physical violence. The multilevel analysis showed some evidence of between-cluster variation in physical violence. We found that age, education, employment status, witness to inter-parental violence, partner's drinking habits, household wealth, education difference, place of residence, and province were key predictors of physical violence. The odds of physical violence were more than two-fold in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga compared to Gauteng.

CONCLUSION

The study highlighted various key factors explaining physical violence. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions aimed at specific communities of women, such as those from the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, as well as interventions that will empower women and address gender inequalities.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association between Childhood Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization/Perpetration in Adulthood in Africa

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is widespread in many African countries. Evidence, mainly from Western countries, shows that exposure to IPV in childhood is an important risk factor for experiences of IPV in adulthood. However, to date, no systematic review has synthesized the evidence on this association for individuals living in Africa, which is the goal of the current study. We used three search strategies: database searches (e.g., MEDLINE and PsycINFO), manual searches, and machine learning tools (e.g., Connected Papers). We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and included peer-reviewed studies (in French or English) that reported quantitative or qualitative associations between childhood exposure to IPV and later IPV victimization/perpetration. A total of 48 studies from 29 African countries were included (N = 520,000 participants). Pooled effects indicated an association between childhood exposure to IPV and IPV victimization for females (odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% CI [2.09, 2.91], p < .001) and males (OR = 1.76, 95% CI [1.57, 1.97], p < .001). Similarly, males (OR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.60, 2.29], p < .001) and females (OR = 3.04, 95% CI [2.51, 3.69], p < .001) who were exposed to IPV in childhood were more likely to perpetrate IPV compared to those with no childhood exposure. Effect sizes varied substantially across studies (0.89-5.66), suggesting that other risk factors should be considered in future studies. This review provides unique insights on cycles of IPV in Africa that may usefully inform practice and research.

Prevalence, Correlates, and Trends of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Cambodia: Findings From 2014 and 2021-22 Cross-Sectional Demographic and Health Surveys

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is globally endemic and a gross violation of human rights, in addition to abuse of intimacy by some men against their female intimate partners. Based on literature review, attitudinal, socio-demographic, and experiential attributes of 15 to 49 year old ever partnered women in the heterosexual relationships were identified. This study used the anonymized 2020-21Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) data to compute the IPV prevalence and its correlates, in addition to computing the changes in IPV prevalence at the urban, rural, and at the national levels using data from the 2014 CDHS. Identified attitudinal, socio-demographic, and experiential attributes were used in the bivariate and multivariable analysis. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were used for computing the bivariate and multivariate associations with IPV; additionally, trend analysis was done to compute changes in IPV prevalence between the 2 surveys. Lifetime prevalence of IPV was 20.70%, while the most common subtype was emotional IPV at 18.70%. Ten out of 12 correlates studied were found to be statistically significantly associated with IPV in the bivariate analysis. These were added in the multivariable model and 7 were found to be statistically significantly associated with IPV. Which included educational attainment of women and their intimate partners, number of living children, women's IPV acceptance, male partner's alcohol use, knowledge of physical beating of mother by one's father, and controlling behavior exercised by partner. During the intervening period between the 2 CDHSs, IPV and its subtypes were decreased in both urban and rural areas, as well as nationally. IPV decrease between the 2 DHSs and lower IPV rates in 2021-22 augur well for the health and human rights of Cambodian women. However, the ultimate target of eliminating IPV against women, will require measures that ensure economic and gender empowerment, and gender equality.

Unraveling the Links among Witnessing Interparental Conflict, Hopelessness, Psychological Dating Violence Victimization, and Adult Depressive Symptoms

Witnessing interparental conflict in childhood predicts psychological dating violence victimization (PDVV) in adulthood. As found in previous studies, PDVV and hopelessness are associated with depression. However, the associations among these four variables have not been explored in detail. The present study, therefore, examined the association between perceived interparental conflict and depression in adulthood and whether PDVV and hopelessness might operate as sequential mechanisms accounting for the association. Participants (N = 283; Mage = 23.37 years, SD = 4.04 years) in romantic relationships completed measures of perceived interparental conflict, PDVV, hopelessness, and depression. The perceived interparental conflict was related to PDVV and depression but not to hopelessness in adulthood. Moreover, the association between witnessing interparental conflict and depression was serially mediated via PDVV and hopelessness. The results are discussed in regard to previous research, and their implications for future research are presented.

Prevalence, correlates, and trends of intimate partner violence against women in Sierra Leone: findings from 2013 and 2019 demographic and health surveys

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a globally pervasive public health and medical problem in addition to being a serious violation of women's rights. The two-fold objectives of this study were to compute the lifetime prevalence and correlates of IPV perpetrated by current/former husbands/partners of ever-married women aged 15-49 years using the nationally representative Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 2019; ethnicity-based levels and trends of IPV were also computed using the data from the DHS conducted in 2013 along with the 2019 DHS.

Methods

Twelve IPV correlates pertaining to socio-demographic, attitudinal, and experiential attributes were analyzed using logistic regression models for bivariate and multivariable analysis. IPV was computed as a composite variable comprising of physical, emotional, and/or sexual IPV.

Results

Lifetime prevalence of experiencing any kind of IPV was a staggering 60.81%, whereas emotional, physical, and sexual IPV prevalence were reported by 45.90%, 49.81%, and 8.14% of the respondents, respectively. No ethnicity reported a statistically significant decrease in any type of IPV during the intervening period between the two surveys. Five out of nine ethnicities reported a statistically significant increase in emotional IPV, while few ethnicities reported a statistically significant increase in one or more types of IPV.

Conclusion

The high lifetime prevalence of IPV is alarming and points to the need for targeted health promotion campaigns to reverse the tide of IPV in Sierra Leone, including focusing on changes in cultural and ethnicity-based norms and mores to ensure women's human rights are respected and upheld.