Factors Associated With Intimate Partner Emotional Violence among Women in Union in Uganda

Abstract

Studies on intimate partner emotional violence (IPEV) among women in union Uganda are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with (IPEV) among women in unionin Uganda. The study used the 2016 Uganda Demographic Healthy Survey (UDHS) data. A weighted sample of 5,642 women who had been union was selected from those considered for the domestic violence module. Frequency distributions were used to obtain the background and other IPEV related characteristics of the women while chi-square tests established the relationship between IPEV and the explanatory variables. Binary logistic regressions established the factors that were associated with IPEV. Almost four in ten (38%) married women experienced IPEV. The correlates of IPEV were old age, witnessing inter-parental violence, partner’s alcohol consumption and partner’s controlling behaviors. The odds of reporting IPEV were higher among women of age 25 to 34 years (OR=1.36 CI=1.03-1.78) and 35+years (OR=1.55 CI=1.15-2.08), witnessed inter-parental violence (OR=1.38 CI=1.11-1.72). Notably, women who were controlled by their partners in any way were more likely to experience IPEV (OR=4.26 CI=3.29-5.52) and those whose partners often got drunk or sometimes got drunk had higher odds of experiencing IPEV (OR=4.22 CI=2.85-6.27; OR=2.39 CI=1.66-3.45) respectively. IPEV towards women in union was high. This calls for its reduction through organizing mass media and advocacy campaigns to raise awareness about existing laws and policies on IPEV, engage men and boys in violence prevention, the girls should be encouraged to attain increased access to higher education in addition to designing life skills and school based programs which are intended to avert violence and the government should also strengthen enforcement of alcohol related laws and regulations to reduce on alcohol abuse. In addition to the above, Prevention campaigns on inter-generational transmission of violence should be stepped up.