TY - JOUR
PY - 2021//
TI - Exposure to interparental violence and justification of intimate partner violence among women in sexual unions in sub-Saharan Africa
JO - Archives of public health
A1 - Aboagye, Richard Gyan
A1 - Seidu, Abdul-Aziz
A1 - Asare, Bernard Yeboah-Asiamah
A1 - Peprah, Prince
A1 - Addo, Isaac Yeboah
A1 - Ahinkorah, Bright Opoku
SP - e162
EP - e162
VL - 79
IS - 1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Justification of intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the critical factors that account for the high prevalence of IPV among women. In this study, we examined the association between exposure to interparental violence and IPV justification among women in sexual unions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
METHODS: Data for this study were obtained from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 26 countries in SSA conducted between 2010 and 2020. A total of 112,953 women in sexual unions were included in this study. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was carried out. The results of the regression analysis were presented using crude odds ratios (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS: The prevalence of interparental violence in the countries considered in this study was 23.8%, with the highest (40.8%) and lowest (4.9%) in Burundi and Comoros, respectively. IPV justification was 45.8%, with the highest and lowest prevalence in Mali (80.9%) and South Africa (4.6%) respectively. Women who were exposed to interparental violence were more likely to justify IPV compared to those who were not exposed [aOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.47-1.59]. We found higher odds of justification of IPV among women who were exposed to interparental violence compared to those who were not exposed in all the countries, except Burkina Faso, Comoros, Gambia, and Rwanda.
CONCLUSION: The findings call for several strategies for addressing interparental violence. These may include empowerment services targeting both men and women, formation of stronger social networks to improve women's self-confidence, and the provision of evidence-based information and resources at the community level. These interventions should pay critical attention to young people exposed to interparental violence. Public health education and messaging should emphasise on the negative health and social implications of interparental violence and IPV.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0778-7367 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13690-021-00684-3 ID - ref1 ER -