Magnitude and correlates of gender-based violence among married women in Northwest Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a major public health and human rights problem with multiple sexual and reproductive health complications worldwide. This study was conducted to assess the magnitude of gender-based violence and its associated factors among married women in Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2015 using the World Health Organization multi-country questionnaire to measure violence against women. Trained data collectors interviewed 832 married women were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Epi info version 6.0 for data entry and SPSS version 20 for analysis were used. Data were principally analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression.
Results: Six hundred and twenty (74.5%; 95%CI: 71.5%-77.3 %) of the married women had experienced at least one type of GBV in their lifetime and 41.8% (95%CI: 38.3%-45.1%) in the last 12 months. GBV included psychological violence in a life time 62.3% and in the last 12 months 35.6%; physical violence in life time 56.1%and in the last 12 months 27.9%; and sexual violence in life time30.6%, and in the last 12 months 15.5% were reported. Older women those in multiple sexual partnership or union, stayed in relationship or in union with their husband for <10years, age difference with their current husband of >5years, early child marriage, offer of sexual intercourse for monetary gains or for business purpose and alcohol intake were factors associated with an increased risk of gender-based violence.
Conclusions: Gender-based violence was found to be high and a serious problem among married women in Northwest Ethiopia. Comprehensive community based health education program and strengthening of women empowerment are necessary to improve this situation.
Keywords: Gender-based violence, married women, prevalence, risk factors, Ethiopia.
Résumé
Contexte: La violence basée sur le genre, (VBG) est un problème majeur de santé publique et de droits de l’homme avec de multiples complications pour la santé sexuelle et reproductive dans le monde entier. Cette étude a été menée pour évaluer l’ampleur de la violence basée sur le genre et ses facteurs associés parmi les femmes mariées du nord-ouest de l’Éthiopie.
Méthodes: Une étude transversale communautaire a été menée de janvier à juin 2015 à l’aide du questionnaire multi-pays de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé pour mesurer la violence à l’égard des femmes. Les collectionneurs de données qualifiés ont interrogés 832 femmes mariées qui ont été sélectionnés par une technique systématique d’échantillonnage aléatoire. Epi info version 6.0 pour la saisie des données et SPSS version 20 pour l’analyse ont été utilisés. Les données ont principalement été analysées à l’aide de statistiques descriptives, de régression logistique binaire.
Résultats: six cent vingt (74,5%; 95% IC: 71,5% à 77,3 %) des femmes mariées ont connu au moins un type de VBG au cours de leur vie et 41,8% (IC 95%: 38,3% -45,1%) au cours des 12 derniers mois. La VBG y compris la violence psychologique au cours de la vie 62,3% et au cours des 12 derniers mois 35,6%; la violence physique au cours de la vie 56,1% et au cours des 12 derniers mois 27,9%; et la violence sexuelle au cours de la vie 30,6%, et au cours des 12 derniers mois 15,5% ont été signalés. Les femmes âgées ceux qui étaient dans une alliance ou union sexuelle multiple, restaient dans la relation ou en union avec leur mari pendant <10 ans, différence d’âge avec leur mari actuel >5 ans, mariage prématuré, offre de rapports sexuels pour des gains monétaires ou à des fins commerciales et la consommation d’alcool étaient des facteurs associés à un risque accru de violence basée sur le genre.
Conclusions: la violence basée sur le genre s’est révélée élevée et un grave problème chez les femmes mariées dans le nord-ouest de l’Éthiopie. Un programme complet d’éducation sanitaire communautaire et un renforcement de l’autonomisation des femmes sont nécessaires pour améliorer cette situation.
Mots-clés: Violence basée sur le genre, femmes mariées, prévalence, facteurs de risque, Ethiopie
Correspondence: Mr. Achenef A Muche, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. Email: ashua2014@gmail.com.
References
World Health Organization; World report on Violence and Health, Geneva.2002, Page 25-49
Heise .L: Violence against Women: The missing agenda. The health of women: A global perspective West view Press.1992, P 25-36.
World Health Organization: WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women. Geneva, Switzerland 2005.
Eilsberg M. and Heise L.: Violence against Women: A Practical Guide for Researchers and Activists. Washington DC. United States: WHO, PATH; 2005, p 40-45.
Heise L. and Garcia M.: Violence by intimate partners. World report on violence and health. Geneva: World Health Organization;2002, 87-121
Romito P. and Gerin D.: Asking patients about violence. A survey of 510 women attending social and health services in Trieste.Italy Social Science and Medicine2002,54:1813-1834.
Okumba M. Judy M. and Derrick N. until the violence stops. African women development and communication network (FEMNET) http://femnet.co/, 2005
Swain N, Battala M, Verma K, et al: Experience of violence and adverse reproductive health outcomes, HIV risks among mobile female sex workers in India. BMC Public Health,2011),11:357doi:10.1186/1471http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/357
Nguyen H, Keithly C, Mai T, et al. The association and a potential pathway between gender-based violence and induced abortion in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. Glob Health Action,2012,5(19006);1-11.
Heise L, and Raikes A:Violence against Women: A neglected public health issue in less developed countries: Social Science and Medicine,1997,39(9): 1165-81
Central Statistical Agency [Ethiopia] and ORC Macro:Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2005. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Calverton, Maryland, USA: Central Statistical Agency and ORC Macro; 2006, Page 235-251
Central Statistical Agency [Ethiopia] and ORC Macro:Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Calverton, Maryland, USA: Central Statistical Agency and ORC Macro; 2011, Page 60-68.
Deyessa N, Kassaye M, Demeke B and Taffa N: Magnitude, type and outcomes of physical violence against married women in Butajira, South Ethiopia. Ethiop Med J1998,36 (2):83-92.
Abeya G, Afework F and Yalew W: Intimate partner violence against women in western Ethiopia: prevalence, patterns and associated factors .BMC Public Health 2011,11 (913):1-18.
Deribe K, Beyene B, Tolla A, et al: Magnitude and Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence against Women and Its Outcome in Southwest Ethiopia. PLoS ONE2012, 7(4):1-7 e36189. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036189
Feseha G, G mariam A and Gerbaba M : Intimate partner physical violence among women in Shimelba refugee camp, northern Ethiopia. BMC Public Health2012,12(125): 1-10
Yigzaw T, Yibrie A and Kebede Y: Domestic violence around Gondar in Northwest Ethiopia, Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2004,18(3): 133-139
Orava T, McLeod P and Sharpe D: Perceptions of control, depressive symptomatology , and self-esteem of women in transition from abusive relationships. JFamViolence1996,11:167-186.
Xu X, Zhu H, Koenig M, et al: Prevalence of and risk factors for intimate partner violence in China. Am J Public Health2005,95:78-85
Kaye D, Mirembe F and Bantebya G: Risk factors, nature and severity of domestic violence among women attending antenatal clinic in Mulago hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Cent Aft J Med2002,48(6): 4-68.
Hindin MJ, Kishor S and Ansara DL: Intimate Partner Violence among Couples in 10 DHS Countries: Predictors and Health Outcomes. DHS Analytical Studies No. 18.Calverton, Maryland, USA: Macro International Inc2008.
Koenig MA, Ahmed S, Hossain MB and Mozumder AB: Women’s status and domestic violence in rural Bangladesh: individual and community-level effects. Demography, 2003,40:269-288.
Fetene T, Abebe G, Aaderajew N, et al: Prevalence of Unintended Pregnancy and Associated Factors among Married Pregnant Women in Ganji Woreda, West Wollega Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Science Journal of Public Health.2014, 2(2): 92-101.
Silverman JG, Gupta J, Decker MR, et al: Intimate partner violence and unwanted pregnancy, Miscarriage, Induced abortion and still birth among a national sample of Bangladeshi women, BJOD 2007,114(92): 1246-1252
WHO: Putting women’s safety first: ethical and safety recommendations for research on domestic violence against women. Geneva 2001.
Heise L:Violence Against Women: An integrated, ecological framework, cited in Population Reports/CHANGE,1999. VolumeXXVII,No.4,,availableathttp://www.jhuccp.org/pr/l11edsum.stm.
Deyessa N, Yemane B, Atalay A, et al: Intimate partner violence and depression among women in rural Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health,2009,5:8 doi:10.1186/1745-0179-5-8.
Ellen M and Volp E: Age Got to Do With It? Partner Age Difference, Power, Intimate Partner Violence, and Sexual Risk in Urban Adolescents. J Interpers Violence 2013,28(10): 2068–2087.
Kate S, Kerr T, Strthedee SA, et al: Prevalence and structural correlates of gender based violence among a prospective cohort of female sex workers,BMJ2009,339(2939): 1-8 .
Koss M and Gaines J:The prediction of sexual aggression by alcohol use, athletic participation and fraternity affiliation. J Interpers Violence 1993,8: 94-106
Jansen H, Watts C, Ellsberg M, Heise L and Garcia CM: Interviewer training in the WHO Multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence. Violence against Women 2004,10:831-849