Determinants of intimate partner sexual violence among married women in Western Uganda

Abstract

The study assessed factors associated with Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV) in Western Uganda using secondary cross-sectional survey data from 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey. The analysis was based on a weighted sample of 1865 married women of Western Uganda selected for the Domestic violence module. Analysis was performed at three levels; univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses .Percentages for categorical variables, cross tabulations (chi-square tests) and a binary logistic regression model were used to identify factors associated with IPSV.

Results showed that 25% of the women experienced IPSV. IPSV was significantly associated with partners controlling behaviours, alcohol consumption by partner, being afraid of the partner, witnessing parental violence, as well as number of children and wealth index. The odds of reporting IPSV increased among women that had witnessed parental violence compared to those that did not (AOR=1.77; p=0.000); were afraid of their partners especially most of the time compared to those that were not (AOR=3.44; p=0.000.); whose partners drunk alcohol compared to those that did not (AOR=1.54; p=0.003); were controlled by partners on one or more issues compared to those with no control issues AOR=5.21; p=0.000); increased with increase in number of children especially seven and more (AOR=2.80; p=0.009); those from poorer wealth index compared to those from poorest wealth index (AOR=1.90; p=0.024).

In western Uganda, women that were afraid of their husbands, controlled by their partners, with many children, whose husbands drink alcohol, poor women and those who witnessed parental violence were more vulnerable to IPSV. Therefore, IPSV prevention measures should focus on improving male partners‟ behaviours especially among low income settings and promotion of programmes tailored towards preventing violence at household level.