Citation

Memiah P, Cook C, Kingori C, Munala L, Howard K, Ayivor S, Bond T. Pan. Afr. Med. J. 2021; 40: e142.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, African Field Epidemiology Network)

DOI

10.11604/pamj.2021.40.142.23311

PMID

34925677

PMCID

PMC8654874

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global concern not only among adults but also adolescents. It has been reported that 35% of adolescent women have ever experienced IPV - occuring more so in non-industrialized countries. This study sought to understand the correlates associated with experiencing IPV among adolescent women between the ages 15 and 24 in five East African countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

METHODS: this was a secondary analysis of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data on adolescent women aged 15-24 years in five East African countries. IPV was measured as a composite variable of emotional, physical, and sexual violence. Other sociodemographic, income, maternal, sexual, knowledge, behavioral, and partner-related variables were included in the analysis.

RESULTS: the prevalence of ever experiencing IPV was 45.1% (n=2380). A higher proportion of women who reported experiencing IPV had their first sexual encounter when they were less than 18 years of age (p<0.001). The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of experiencing IPV increased almost two times for women who were aged 18-24 years (aOR: 1.7; CI: 1.3-2.3), almost four times (aOR 3.8; CI: 1.7-8.3) for those who had two or more children, and two-fold for women who had ever terminated a pregnancy compared to those who had not (aOR 2.2; CI: 1.0-4.9). Additionally, there was a higher odds (aOR: 1.5 (1.0-2.3)) of experiencing IPV if the respondent believed their husband/spouse´s abuse was justified.

CONCLUSION: raising early awareness and educating both the young males and females appropriately to mitigate contributing factors to IPV could ensure stable, healthy relationships free of domestic violence in the future.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Adult; Child; Humans; Female; Male; adolescents; Young Adult; Prevalence; Intimate partner violence; *Intimate Partner Violence; Burundi; East Africa; Kenya/epidemiology; Tanzania/epidemiology