Intimate partner violence in 46 low-income and middle-income countries: an appraisal of the most vulnerable groups of women using national health surveys

Abstract

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a critical public health issue that transcends social and economic boundaries and considered to be a major obstacle to the progress towards the 2030 women, children and adolescents' health goals in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Standardised IPV measures have been increasingly incorporated into Demographic and Health Surveys carried out in LMICs. Routine reporting and disaggregated analyses at country level are essential to identify populational subgroups that are particularly vulnerable to IPV exposure.

Methods: We examined data from 46 countries with surveys carried out between 2010 and 2017 to assess the prevalence and inequalities in recent psychological, physical and sexual IPV among ever-partnered women aged 15-49 years. Inequalities were assessed by disaggregating the data according to household wealth, women's age, women's empowerment level, polygyny status of the relationship and area of residence.

Results: National levels of reported IPV varied widely across countries-from less than 5% in Armenia and Comoros to more than 40% in Afghanistan. Huge inequalities within countries were also observed. Generally, richer and more empowered women reported less IPV, as well as those whose partners had no cowives. Different patterns across countries were observed according to women's age and area of residence but in most cases younger women and those living in rural areas tend to be more exposed to IPV.

Conclusion: The present study advances the current knowledge by providing a global panorama of the prevalence of different forms of IPV across LMICs, helping the identification of the most vulnerable groups of women and for future monitoring of leaving no one behind towards achieving the elimination of all forms of violence among women and girls.

Keywords: community-based survey; epidemiology; public health.

Figure 1

Absolute wealth inequality × national prevalence of recent psychological and physical and/or sexual IPV in each country. IPV, intimate partner violence.

Figure 2

Prevalence of recent psychological and physical and/or sexual IPV according to women’s age in each country. The depth marks indicate the national prevalence of IPV. IPV, intimate partner violence.

Figure 3

Prevalence of recent psychological and physical and/or sexual IPV according to the polygyny status of the partnership in each country (countries ordered by polygyny prevalence). IPV, intimate partner violence.

Figure 4

Prevalence of recent psychological and physical and/or sexual IPV by women’s empowerment level according to the SWPER (attitude to violence domain). The depth marks indicate the National prevalence of IPV. IPV, intimate partner violence; SWPER, Survey-based Women’s emPowERment.