Magnitude and correlates of gender-based violence among married women in Northwest Ethiopia

Authors

  • Mr. Achenef A Muche

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.

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2020-09-02

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