Assessment of the prevalence and the factors associated with physical violence to spouses against married women of reproductive age group in Yilmana Densa Woreda, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Back ground: Increasingly domestic violence is being recognized as an important public health concern. Information about women’s health in the third world countries has seen relatively scarce and until recently available information tended to focus on the most negative indication of women’s health status. Objective: To assess the prevalence, the factors associated and the health consequences of physical violence to intimate partner against married women of reproductive age group. Method: A quantitative and qualitative study was conducted in Yilmana Densa Woreda between September, 2007 to April, 2008 involving married women for the quantitative part and abused women for the qualitative part. Structured questionnaire was prepared for the quantitative part and an in-depth interview was carried out with purposively selected subjects. SPSS version 12 statistical package was used for data entry and analysis and the qualitative part was recorded, transcribed in to Amharic and fully translated to English and analyzed descriptively. A total of 836 married women and 10 abused women were involved. Result: The quantitative study revealed that the life time and the last three months prevalence of physical violence to intimate partner was 33.3% and 9.0%; respectively. The most frequently observed types of physical violence was slapping or hitting with fist and kicking or hitting with leg. The out comes of physical violence was ranged from small laceration to abortion. The study also shown that having history of parental spousal abuse than don’t have (AOR= 2.59, 95%CI=1.88, 3.59), and spouses having other wife than don’t have (AOR= 1.89, 95%CI= 1.28, 2.81) were the most triggering factors to increase the magnitude of physical violence against married women. On the other hand presence of confidant have strong protective effect for violence (AOR= 0.55, 95%CI= 0.35, 0.88respectively). The result of the in-depth interview revealed that economic reasons, initiation of marriage by family, husband’s alcohol consumption and family interference were the most triggering factors. Conclusion: The life time prevalence and last three months prevalence of physical violence to intimate partner was higher and continuing. It is suggested that education and creation of awareness to the community through IEC, women’s access to education and empowerment, promotion of marriage initiated by self, encouraging the community especially the husbands to have one wife and gender equity are recommended.