Intimate partner physical violence and associated factors in reproductive age married women in Aksum Town, Tigray, Ethiopia 2018, and community based study

Effects of education and age on the experience of youth violence in a very low-resource setting: a fixed-effects analysis in rural Burkina Faso

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to investigate the effects of education and age on the experience of youth violence in low-income and middle-income country settings.

DESIGN

Using a standardised questionnaire, our study collected two waves of longitudinal data on sociodemographics, health practices, health outcomes and risk factors. The panel fixed-effects ordinary least squares regression models were used for the analysis.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted in 59 villages and the town of Nouna with a population of about 100 000 individuals, 1 hospital and 13 primary health centres in Burkina Faso.

PARTICIPANTS

We interviewed 1644 adolescents in 2017 and 1291 respondents in 2018 who participated in both rounds.

OUTCOME AND EXPOSURE MEASURES

We examined the experience of physical attacks in the past 12 months and bullying in the past 30 days. Our exposures were completed years of age and educational attainment.

RESULTS

A substantial minority of respondents experienced violence in both waves (24.1% bullying and 12.2% physical attack), with males experiencing more violence. Bullying was positively associated with more education (β=0.12; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.22) and non-significantly with older age. Both effects were stronger in males than females, although the gender differences were not significant. Physical attacks fell with increasing age (β=-0.18; 95% CI -0.31 to -0.05) and this association was again stronger in males than females; education and physical attacks were not substantively associated.

CONCLUSIONS

Bullying and physical attacks are common for rural adolescent Burkinabe. The age patterns found suggest that, particularly for males, there is a need to target violence prevention at younger ages and bullying prevention at slightly older ones, particularly for those remaining in school. Nevertheless, a fuller understanding of the mechanisms behind our findings is needed to design effective interventions to protect youth in low-income settings from violence.

Violence against housemaids in an Ethiopian town during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Violence against women is a global public health problem that has numerous adverse effects. However, published literature regarding violence against housemaids during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia is lacking. The current study aims to explore the experiences of violence and associated factors among housemaids in Ethiopia. The findings may be useful to the design appropriate policies, programs and strategies to reduce the problem.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March, 2021 in Kombolcha Town, Ethiopia. A total of 215 housemaids aged 14 years and older were included in the study using a simple random sampling technique. A multivariable logistic regression model with 95% CI (confidence interval) was applied to identify significant factors of physical and sexual violence. Variables with a P-value < 0.05 were declared as factors significantly associated with violence.

RESULTS

Among 215 housemaids, 33.49% (95% CI: 27.13-39.85%) reported physical violence and 21.4% (95% CI: 15.87-26.92) reported sexual violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, housemaids aged 19-23 years (AOR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.01-6.89), who had a male employer (AOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.05-5.45), whose employers chewed chat (Catha edulis) (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.73-8.29), or drank alcohol (AOR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.17-7.17) experienced more physical violence. Sexual violence was also associated with employers' alcohol consumption (AOR = 9.72, 95% CI: 3.12-20.31), employers' chat chewing (AOR = 7.40, 95% CI: 2.26-14.21) and male employers (AOR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.22-8.52).

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that one in five housemaids and one in three housemaids experienced sexual violence and physical violence, respectively. Housemaids aged 19-23 years, having a male employer, having an employer who chewed chat (Catha edulis) or who drank alcohol were factors associated with physical violence, whereas employers' alcohol consumption, employers' chat chewing and male employers were factors associated with sexual violence.

Multilevel analysis of intimate partner violence and associated factors among pregnant women in East Africa: Evidence from recent (2012-2018) demographic and health surveys

BACKGROUND

Globally, intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is the most common and major public health problem. It has a negative effect on the lives of both mother and fetus. Despite its prominence, many countries in East Africa have paid little attention to this issue. This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence among pregnant women in East African countries.

METHODS

The study adopted a secondary method data analysis that utilized recent Demographic and Health Surveys of 10 countries in East Africa between 2012 and 2018. A total of 23,521 women who gave birth in the 5 years preceding the survey were included. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with IPV. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were declared as significant factors associated with IPV.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of IPV in East Africa was 37.14 (95% CI 36.53, 37.76). Women with age 25-34 (AOR = 1.20;95%CI; 1.06, 1.36), 35-39 (AOR = 1.40;95%CI; 1.24, 1.58), and 40-49 (AOR = 1.66;95%CI; 1.43, 1.95), women with no education (AOR = 1.27;95%CI; 1.16, 1.39), women with no occupation (AOR = 1.36; 95%CI; 1.27, 1.47), women from households with the poorest (AOR = 1.51; 95%CI: 1.33, 1.71), poorer (AOR = 1.40;95% CI:1.24, 1.58), middle (AOR = 1.32;95%CI:1.17, 1.48), and richer (AOR = 1.26;95%CI: 1.13, 1.40), husband drinks alcohol (AOR = 2.54; 95%CI 2.39, 2.71), ≥ 5 number of living children (AOR = 1.28; 95%CI: 1.31, 2.57) and rural areas (AOR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.03, 1.25) were significantly associated with IPV.

CONCLUSION

More than one-third of pregnant women experienced intimate partner violence in East Africa. Promoting the educational status of women, the economic capacity of women, and the healthy behavior of the husband by reducing alcohol consumption, with particular attention to rural women and violence during pregnancy, is vital to reduce the prevalence of IPV.

Intimate partner violence against women of reproductive age and associated factors during COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ethiopia, 2021: A community-based cross-sectional study

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern that affects more than one-third of all women globally. Assessing the prevalence of intimate partner violence and associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in various localities is crucial for intervention actions. So far, a few studies have been done in Ethiopia during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of intimate partner violence in women of reproductive age and associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia, 2021.

Methodology

A community-based cross-sectional study was done. A total of 809 ever-partnered women of reproductive age were selected randomly via a multistage sampling method. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with the resulting 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to verify the strength of associations. Significant associations were declared at p-values <0.05.

Result

Among the 796 women who successfully participated in the study, 337 (42.3%) experienced at least one type of intimate partner violence. Prevalence of psychological, physical, and sexual violence was 35.3% (281), 15.3% (122), and 15.2% (121), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that women with no formal education [AOR (95% CI): 3.66 (1.91-6.98)], having no own income [AOR (95% CI): 1.78 (1.24-2.56)], and attitude of IPV were acceptable [AOR (95% CI): 4.02 (1.33-12.14)]; a male partner with no formal education [AOR (95% CI): 3.06 (1.53-6.14)], with "level of religious beliefs" [weak-AOR (95% CI): 4.17 (1.45-12.03); and medium-AOR (95% CI): 1.64 (1.13-2.39)], who is alcoholic [AOR (95% CI): 5.91 (4.03-8.67)], and with smoking habits [AOR (95% CI): 2.04 (1.10-3.77)] and >5 [AOR (95% CI): 1.83 (1.01-3.39)] was significantly associated with the presence of intimate partner violence.

Conclusion and recommendation

This study revealed a high prevalence of IPV in the study participants. The high intimate partner violence prevalence was due to multiple factors, thus demanding empowering women and tailored health education for male partners.

Physical Violence and Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Physical violence against women of reproductive age is a significant public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to assess physical violence and associated factors among women of reproductive age.

METHOD

A community-based cross-sectional study design was implemented from August 1 to September 30, 2018, including women of reproductive age in Gedeo Zone Southern Ethiopia. A stratified, two-stage cluster sampling technique was used. Finally, the study population was selected from the respective source population using a simple random sampling technique. Data were checked, coded, and entered Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. The wealth index was computed using the principal component analysis. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were computed to identify the determinants of physical violence among women of reproductive age.

RESULTS

Experiencing at least one type of physical violence among women of reproductive age was 14.7% (95%CI: 11.7, 17.4). Study participants whose spouse had any habit (AOR: 3.56; 95%CI: 1.75, 7.25) and whose spouse had watched pornography counterpart ((AOR: 1.58; 95%CI: 1.02, 3.17) had significantly higher odds of experiencing physical violence among women of reproductive age. Spouses had any habit like alcohol drinking, chat chewing, cigarette smoking, and seeing pornography significantly increased physical violence among reproductive-age women. Therefore, the responsible stakeholders should work on the means to the spouse can alleviate any form of habit like alcohol drinking, chat chewing, cigarette smoking, and seeing pornography could decrease physical violence in women of reproductive age.

Intimate partner violence against reproductive age women during COVID-19 pandemic in northern Ethiopia 2020: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

As the global pandemic of corona virus (COVID-19) spreads across continents and communities, people are forced to respond with strict preventive measures such as staying at home and keeping social distance. In relation with these measures, particularly with the staying at home, increasing rates of domestic violence are beginning to surface. Hence, this study was aimed at determining the prevalence of intimate partner violence against reproductive age women in northern Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The data were collected during the period of April to May, 2020 using interviews and a self-administered standard questionnaire. The data were entered into the Epi-data manager version 4.2 and exported to SPSS 22 for analysis. The descriptive analysis such as frequency distribution, percentage, and measures of central tendency were used. This was followed by binary and multiple logistic regression analysis to infer the association between the outcome and independent variables.

RESULTS

A total of 682 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of intimate partner violence against women was found to stood at 24.6% with psychological violence being the most prevalent (13.3%), followed by physical (8.3%) and sexual violence (5.3%). Women were more likely to suffer from violence if they were housewives (AOR, 95% CI (18.062 (10.088, 32.342))), age less than 30 (AOR, 95% CI (23.045 (5.627, 94.377))), women with arrange marriage (AOR, 95% CI (2.535 (1.572, 4.087))) and women with husband's age being "between" 31-40 (AOR, CI 95% (2.212 (1.024, 4.777))).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed the presence of a relatively high prevalence of intimate partner violence against women. Thus, public reporting of any cases or concerns of abuse is critical and vital to mitigate the problem.