Prevalence and Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence Among Married Women in Egypt

Investigating Pathways Linking of Women's Education Status and Empowerment to Intimate Partner Violence Among Married Women in Sri Lanka: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

In Sri Lanka, intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a major concern, particularly for married women. Women's education and empowerment are significant contributors to IPV. Despite this, there have been no recent studies exploring the complex relationship between education and multidimensions of empowerment in relation to IPV in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this research addresses this gap by exploring the complex pathways connecting married women's education and multidimensional empowerment to IPV. Using data from the 2019 Sri Lankan Women's Wellbeing Survey, this study included 1,165 married women. A path analysis based on structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the complex interplay between distinct empowerment domains and IPV. The SEM results revealed both direct and indirect effects of women's education and empowerment on IPV experiences. Education is positively linked to age at marriage, employment status, and husbands' educational level, while inversely associated with accepting attitudes toward violence. Age at marriage plays a major role as a mediator, mediating the relationship between women's education and their involvement in decision-making, and the relationship between husbands' education and women's IPV experience. Moreover, the relationship between women's age at marriage and their IPV experiences was fully mediated by their decision-making ability, highlighting the importance of empowerment in decision-making. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that address the interconnected factors affecting IPV risk among married women in Sri Lanka, particularly focusing on education, empowerment, and marriage timing.

Intimate Partner Violence Among Poor Disabled Women in Egypt

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive global issue that disproportionately impacts women with disabilities, yet remains underexplored in many contexts. This study examines the prevalence and determinants of IPV among poor disabled women in Egypt, aiming to identify the key factors contributing to their heightened vulnerability. Specifically, it addresses the following questions: What are the prevalence rates of IPV in this population? Which sociodemographic and psychological factors influence IPV? How do relationship dynamics shape IPV risk among disabled women? Using data from the 2020 Survey of Violence Against Disabled Women in Egypt, conducted by the National Council for Women in collaboration with the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics and the United Nations Population Fund, the study analyzes a stratified random sample of 3,144 ever-married disabled women aged 18 years and older from diverse regions of Egypt. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were applied to identify significant predictors of IPV. The findings reveal that IPV risk is influenced by sociodemographic factors (e.g., geographical region, educational level, employment status), the onset and type of disability, psychological factors (e.g., self-esteem, self-confidence, fear of the husband, acceptance of violence), and relationship dynamics (e.g., dependency, controlling behaviors, financial control). Women with hearing impairments and those whose disabilities began in childhood or youth were found to face particularly high risks of IPV. Additionally, fear of the husband, acceptance of beating, controlling behaviors, and financial control were identified as strong predictors of IPV across all groups. This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and policies to protect disabled women in Egypt. Recommendations include the development of accessible services, culturally sensitive educational campaigns, and efforts to challenge societal norms that normalize violence. Such measures are critical for mitigating IPV and supporting disabled women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Polygyny and intimate partner violence among married women: Sub-national estimates from a cross-sectional study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global issue with several social and health consequences. Global estimates indicate that one-third of women have experienced lifetime IPV. In 2013, sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest rates of IPV. Furthermore, previous research showed that polygyny is positively associated with IPV. This study examined associations between polygyny and IPV in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with a special attention to geographical variations. The paper used a subsample of 3,749 married women from 2013-2014 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in the DRC. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to test statistical significance between polygyny and IPV and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Findings showed spatial variations for polygyny and the three types of IPV. Overall, 19.0% of married women were in polygynous unions. This percentage ranged from 5.7% in North Kivu to 29.4% in Kasai occidental. In the last 12 months, 28.6%, 27.8%, and 19.6% of married women reported physical, emotional, and sexual violence, respectively, while 43.2% reported any form of IPV. IPV rates ranged from 18.1% in Kongo central to 58.3% in Kasai occidental. Net of controls, women in polygynous unions living Bandundu [AOR = 2.16, 95%CI = 1.38-3.38], Katanga [AOR = 1.78, 95%CI = 1.09-2.89], North Kivu [AOR = 6.22, 95%CI = 1.67-23.22], and South Kivu [AOR = 2.79, 95%CI = 1.03-7.54] had higher rates of IPV than their counterparts in monogamous unions. Spatial analyses showed that Kasai Occidental had the highest rates of IPV. Overall, being in polygynous increased significantly the odds of IPV. Programmatically, policymakers and stakeholders need to devise more effective policies and IPV interventions targeting polygynous families in DRC to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5.2, that aimed to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030.

Prevalence and Predictors of Domestic Violence in India: Complex Sample Analysis of a Nationally Representative Study Conducted Between 2019 and 2021

BACKGROUND

 Violence against women has been one of the dreaded social evils that humanity is facing. There have been concerted efforts to eliminate this evil, and sustainable development goals goal 5.2.1 gave it a timeline. The current study was carried out to estimate the burden of domestic violence (DV) against women and to investigate the sociodemographic correlates of DV victims in India.

METHODS

 Data were drawn from the fifth National Family Health Survey round. According to Demographic Health Survey guidelines, DV is measured using a 13-item questionnaire in the women's survey. Complex sample analysis was done using a primary sampling unit, sample weight, and stratification variables to estimate the weighted prevalence. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression determine the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratio. The analysis is carried out using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

RESULTS

 The weighted prevalence of DV against women in India in 2019-2021 was 31.2%. Approximately 28.5%, 13.1%, and 5.7% of women reported experiences of physical, emotional, and sexual violence, respectively. Karnataka was the worst affected state, with 47.3% of women facing DV. Individual factors like education and occupation, household factors like husband's education, occupation, drinking habit, wealth index, and community-level factors like caste, religion, and place of residence were significant predictors of DV. Lower levels of education and lower socioeconomic status were essential predictors of DV.

CONCLUSION

 The importance of education for both females and males has repeatedly been directly associated with DV, but the interventions have failed to improve the situation and warrant a new strategy. Awareness about the legal consequences of DV in lower socioeconomic classes also has the potential to cut down the numbers. Further research into the causality can improve the planning for better intervention modalities.

Prevalence and factors associated with anxiety disorder among married women exposed to violence in rural area, Ismailia, Egypt: A cross-sectional study

Background

Domestic abuse is a widespread health issue that negatively impacts both mental health and quality of life.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of domestic violence and anxiety among women visiting primary healthcare facilities in the rural Ismailia governorate.

Methods

Between October 2021 and December 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Simple random methods were used to choose the participants from those who attended a clinic. 350 married women were included in the estimated sample size. By using an interview questionnaire, data were gathered including the following parts: The socio-demographic data, designed scale for assessment of violence and anxiety symptoms were assessed by the Hamilton anxiety scale.

Results

The prevalence of domestic violence was 41% and both physical and sexual abuse was 43%. The most predominant sexual abuse was practice without consent (63%). The prevalence of anxiety was 76%, the predominance was mild degree 46% followed by mild to moderate 18%. The significant predictors for anxiety in the total sample were the increase in age of women, rural residence, and exposure to abuse (OR = 11.2 (4.9-25.4). The use of the husband's stimulant drugs was the most predictor factor for women's abuse (OR = 2.3 (1.4-3.9).

Conclusion

forty-one of the women exposed to every form of violence, anxiety was present in more than three-quarters of the studied women. It is essential to screen any wife attending primary health care for the manifestation of domestic violence especially in rural areas and increase the awareness of family physicians towards screening of mental health problems.

Physical violence during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: why it matters and who are most susceptible?

OBJECTIVE

The study assessed the prevalence of physical violence against pregnant women and its associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

DESIGN

We analysed cross-sectional data of 108971 women in sexual unions from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of 26 countries in SSA. The predictors of physical violence were examined using a multilevel binary logistic regression. All the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

SETTING

Twenty-six countries in SSA.

PARTICIPANTS

108 971 women who had ever been pregnant.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Physical violence during pregnancy.

RESULTS

Physical violence was identified in 6.0% of pregnant women in SSA. The highest prevalence (14.0%) was reported in South Africa, while Burkina Faso recorded the lowest (2.1%). Women who had primary (aOR=1.26, 95% CI=1.15, 1.38) and secondary education (aOR=1.15, 95% CI=1.01,1.32); those who were cohabiting (aOR=1.21, 95% CI=1.11, 1.32); those who were working (aOR=1.17, 95% CI=1.08, 1.28); and those whose partners had primary (aOR=1.15, 95% CI=1.04, 1.28) and secondary education (aOR=1.14, 95% CI=1.01, 1.28) were more likely to experience physical violence during pregnancy compared with those who had no formal education; those who were married; those who were not working, and those whose partners had no formal education, respectively. Moreover, women whose partners consumed alcohol (aOR=2.37, 95% CI=2.20, 2.56); those who had parity of four or more (aOR=2.06, 95% CI=1.57, 2.72); and those who perceived intimate partner violence (IPV) as a culturally accepted norm (aOR=1.55, 95% CI=1.44, 1.67) had higher odds of experiencing physical violence during pregnancy compared to those whose partners did not consume alcohol, those with parity zero, and those who did not perceive IPV as culturally accepted, respectively. On the contrary, women who were aged 35-39, those who were of the richest wealth index, and those in rural areas had reduced odds of experiencing physical violence during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings, community leaders are encouraged to liaise with law enforcement agencies to strictly enforce laws on gender-based violence by prosecuting perpetrators of IPV against pregnant women as a deterrent. Also, intensifying education on what constitutes IPV and the potential consequences on the health of pregnant women, their children, and their families will be laudable. Improving the socioeconomic status of women may also help to eliminate IPV perpetration against women at their pregnancy stage.

Effect of Gender Attitudes of Nursing Students on Dating and Domestic Violence Attitudes

Background: Violence and gender inequality duo stand out as a global-scale public health problem, not only because of their frequent prevelances but because of their important effects on youth health. Health workers and especially nurses play an important role in preventing violence Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of gender attitudes of nursing students on their attitudes towards dating and domestic violence. Methods: This study used a descriptive and cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of a total 638 nursing students. Data were collected with Questionnaire Form, Gender Role Attitude Scale, Dating Violence Attitudes Scale and Domestic Violence Attitude Scale. Mann Whitney U, Kruskall Wallis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, Corrected Bonferroni was used. Results: Students attitudes of social gender roles was found to be high, whereas dating and domestic violence attitudes were found at a medium level. Gender roles attitudes nursing students have an effect on their domestic and dating violence attitudes. Conclusion: While there was a positive direction between gender attitudes and dating violence, there was a negative relationship between domestic violence attitudes.

Verbal and psychological violence against women in Turkey and its determinants

Verbal and psychological violence against women is considered an important sociological and legal problem and a serious threat within the context of basic human rights. The aim of this study was to detect the factors affecting verbal and psychological violence against women in Turkey, a developing country. The micro data set of the National research on domestic violence against women in Turkey, which was conducted by the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, was employed in this study. The factors affecting women's exposure to verbal and psychological violence by their husbands or partners in Turkey were determined using binary logistic and binary probit regression analyses. Women whose husbands or partners cheated and used alcohol were more exposed to verbal and psychological violence compared to others. In addition, women who were exposed to physical, economic, and sexual violence were more exposed to verbal and psychological violence compared to others. Exposure to violence by first-degree relatives increases the possibility of exposure to verbal and psychological violence. More effective results can be achieved by prioritizing women likelier to be exposed to violence in policies aimed at preventing acts of verbal violence against women in our country. There are few studies on verbal and psychological violence against women. Therefore, it will be useful to conduct relevant studies from different perspectives.

Optimization of eHealth interventions for intimate partner violence and abuse: A qualitative study amongst Arabic-speaking migrant women

AIMS

This interview study focuses on the needs and wishes of Arabic-speaking migrant women in the Netherlands to culturally adapt and optimize the digital support platform SAFE (safewomen.nl) for intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) for their use.

DESIGN

This is a qualitative interview-based study.

METHODS

We conducted the study between March 2020 and 2021. The study entailed 16 semi-structured interviews with Arabic-speaking women in the Netherlands with a migration background.

RESULTS

Findings suggest that a cultural gap, a lack of knowledge of the Dutch law, and the prevalence of restrictive gender roles amongst the participants and their spouses affected their acknowledgement of the different forms of IPVA. Furthermore, mental health consequences of IPVA were also strongly stigmatized. Clear information in their native language, summarizing infographics and potential interactive features should be main components of any eHealth intervention for this target group.

CONCLUSION

The participants in our study deemed e-help a potentially valuable support option for women experiencing IPVA in their community. The impact of IPVA on mental health is currently overlooked within this target group and should be emphasized in future interventions.

IMPACT

Cultural sensitivity proved crucial in understanding the concepts of IPVA amongst women with migrant backgrounds. To ensure effective eHealth interventions for migrant women, they should be involved in the design and delivery of these interventions.

Impact of leadership gender stereotyping on managing familial conflict, matrimonial strategies, divorce decisions and marital satisfaction in Qatar

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the direct and indirect effects of leadership style and gender roles on managing familial conflict (MFC), as well as how such conflict resolution affects divorce decisions and overall marital satisfaction (SF) in Qatar.

Design/methodology/approach

A 20-item questionnaire, corresponding to 20 indicators for six latent variables, was administered to 550 married couples in Qatar. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's test of sphericity were calculated. The path analysis was measured using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Matrimonial strategies adopted by spouses positively affected familial conflict resolution, and successfully MFC both positively affected marital SF and reduced the inclination to seek a divorce. However, men were not found to be visionary leaders in familial relationships regarding conflict resolution. Leadership gender stereotyping did not positively influence the perception of women's competency (WC). The WC did not positively affect the managing of familial conflict.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides strategic insights regarding how MFC in Qatar influences marital SF. Understanding the determinants of divorce decisions and marital SF furthers understanding of how married couples can sustain healthy relationships.

Originality/value

This study empirically correlates three fields of family research: gender role; conflict resolution and marital SF. It explains how divorce issues have escalated in Qatar and explores the influence on modern social life of sexism, patriarchal roots and Oriental androcentrism. Many factors must be considered when examining matrimonial strategies (MSs), especially if there is debate over the ideal number of children. Strategizing models can curtail conflict that might lead to divorce.

Determinants of husbands' violence against women in Jordan

BACKGROUND

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common form of abuse against women. It comes in the form of physical, sexual, emotional, and controlling behaviors abuse, and affects women's physical and psychological well-being. Perceived social support decreases IPV risk.

PURPOSE

This study explores the determinants of IPV in J society.

METHOD

One hundred and eighty-seven women exposed to IPV were recruited from J Women Unions to take part in this cross-sectional prospective quantitative design, administering the Arabic version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (AVMSPSS) to 187, who also answered the demographic characteristics data sheet.

RESULTS

Almost 83% of participants perceived that they received lower to moderate PSS. Based on multiple regression, determinants of IPV were PSS, followed by participant education, husband education, participant age, and financial income (p < .001). The number of children and parental level of education showed no statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the importance of social support systems among IPV women. Alongside socioeconomic development continuing to increase education among both men and women, there is a need to increase societal awareness and foster social support systems to prevent violence against women and offer resources to affected women, targeted at the most at-risk age groups.

Violence and sociodemographic related factors among a sample of Egyptian women during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Violence against women is a worldwide problem that affects different social and economic classes, and this violence has almost increased with pandemics as the COVID-19 pandemic. The present survey aimed to assess the prevalence of violence against women in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the relationship between sociodemographic factors and violence exposure. A total of 509 women were recruited using a self-completion e-form questionnaire.

RESULTS

The prevalence of violence experienced by women was (43.8%); the most common type was the emotional representing (96.0%) of exposed women, while sexual violence was the least common (13.5%). Violence exposure was affected significantly by residence governorates, husbands' working status, reduced husbands' working hours, and history of violence exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Violence against women in Egypt was increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, which raises the need for a strong and urgent anti-violence program to control this problem.

Impact of domestic violence against pregnant women in Minia governorate, Egypt: a cross sectional study

Background

Domestic violence is a common problem that is related to many serious short-term and long-term health hazards around the world.

Methods

During obtaining the medical history from the participants, the questions used to assess the abuse were derived from the widely used Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS). Potential risk factors including a variety of socio-demographic and reproductive health-relation indicators were assessed. The influence of violence on the pregnancy outcome was determined by the continuous follow-up till giving birth.

Results

513 pregnant women were included. The prevalence of violence among them was 50.8%. The prevalence of physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse was 30.2, 20, 41.7, and 45.4% respectively. Exposure to violence during pregnancy had significant effects on the women and their pregnancy outcome in the form of development of vaginal infection (P-value =0.036), vaginal bleeding (P-value = 0.008), preterm labour (P-value = 0.003), premature rupture of membrane (P-value = 0.001).

Conclusion

Violence against pregnant women in Minia Governorate, Egypt is common especially emotional violence and it has many adverse effects on the women and their pregnancy outcome. One of the most important risk factors is the fear of the husband which makes violence a continuous vicious circle.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-021-03953-9.

COVID-19 Pandemic Worsening Gender Inequalities for Women and Girls in Sub-Saharan Africa

Pandemics such as COVID-19 have often resulted in international, national and sub-regional crises, with considerable inequities across many societies. With the already existing structural and socio-economic inequalities in sub-Saharan Africa, the stay-at-home orders, lockdowns, and shutdowns across the sub-regional states could worsen and have a tremendous impact on vulnerable groups. Numerous studies across a variety of contexts have well-documented gender, and cultures on varied health outcomes. However, these have not been contextualized in sub-Saharan Africa in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This mini review discusses the ways by which COVID-19 has impacted the lives of girls and women across sub-Saharan Africa and the strategies that can help mitigate these challenges. The mini review specifically shares light on a wide array of dimensions where the inequities exist. These include the disproportionate areas affected by COVID-19; household inequities; educational inequalities; work/employment inequalities; disparities related to healthcare, sexual and reproductive health as well as housing inequities. Conclusively, the review accentuates the need for sub-Saharan African countries to adopt low-cost preventive measures such as discouraging mass gatherings (e.g., local community gatherings), and face masking with non-medical cloth like masks for the local populace as these are crucial in managing the spread of the virus among disproportionate women population. For localities with limited access to handwashing facilities, alternative strategies like alcohol-based hand rub solutions could be deployed. The complex interrelated disparities require a broad set of policy actions to lessen the current burden faced by many women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Experience of Intimate Partner Violence among Women in Sexual Unions: Is Supportive Attitude of Women towards Intimate Partner Violence a Correlate?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is predominant in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with nearly 40 percent of women reporting IPV at some point in time. In this study, we investigated whether a supportive attitude towards IPV is associated with past-year experience of IPV among women in sexual unions in SSA. This study involved a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 23 countries in SSA. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between attitude towards IPV and past-year experience of IPV. The regression results were presented in a tabular form using crude odds ratio (cOR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In the pooled countries, we found that women who had supportive attitude towards IPV were more likely to experience IPV compared to those who rejected IPV (cOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.64, 1.79), and this persisted after controlling for maternal age, marital status, wealth, maternal education level, place of residence, and mass-media exposure (aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.64, 1.79). The same trend and direction of association between attitude towards IPV and experience of IPV was also found in all the 23 studied countries. This study has demonstrated that women who accept IPV are more likely to experience IPV. Hence, we recommend that efforts to end IPV must focus primarily on changing the attitudes of women. This goal can be achieved by augmenting women’s empowerment, education, and employment interventions, as well as sensitizing women in relation to the deleterious ramifications of accepting IPV. Furthermore, reducing IPV is critical towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3.

Polygyny and intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from 16 cross-sectional demographic and health surveys

In sub-Saharan Africa, where intimate partner violence has been found to be predominant, several scholars have made efforts to understand its predictors. Socio-culturally, polygyny has been considered as a key determinant of intimate partner violence. This study aimed to examine the association between polygyny and intimate partner violence in 16 sub-Saharan African countries. Binary logistic regression models were used in testing the association and the results were presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval. The proportion of women in polygamous marriages in the 16 countries was 20.2%, ranging from as high as 40% in Chad to as low as 1.6% in South Africa. The prevalence of IPV was 30.7% in the 16 countries, ranging from as high as 44% in Uganda to as low as 12.7% in South Africa. The odds of IPV were higher among women in polygamous marriages in Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe but was lower among women in polygamous marriages in Cameroon [COR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.44-0.66] and Nigeria [COR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.55-0.67], and this persisted after controlling for level of education, place of residence, wealth quintile, media exposure, and justification of violence. This study has found a significant association between polygyny and intimate partner violence. The practice of intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa is fused into the socio-cultural norms and religious traditions of most countries in the sub-Saharan African region. The findings imply that family structures expose women to intimate partner violence. Therefore, global efforts in dealing with intimate partner violence through the Sustainable Development Goals should be done with attention on the socio-cultural norms and traditions around marriage and family structures.