Prevalence of Intimate Partner Physical Violence against Women and Associated Factors in Kofale District, Arsi Zone, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Violence against women is a pervasive public health problem that undermines the reproductive, physical and mental well-being of women. In Ethiopia however, knowledge of the prevalence and characteristics of intimate partner violence against women is limited due to the relative scarcity of population-based studies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner physical violence against women in Kofale district, Arsi Zone. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kofale district among 308 ever-married women in January 2005. A systematic random sampling procedure was applied to identify eligible women. RESULTS: The study showed that 52.6% and 30.2% of the respondents experienced intimate partner physical violence in their lifetime and in the 12 months before the survey respectively. Witnessing family violence as a girl child, education, place of residence, parity, duration of marriage, tradition of marriage arrangement and partners’ use of alcohol were associated with intimate partner physical violence in this study. CONCLUSION: Intimate partner physical violence is highly prevalent in this society and various socio-economic, relationship and behavioral factors increase women’s risk of being victimized. Thus, there is an urgent need for intervention through information education communication to change the attitude of abusive partners, empower women-and improve law enforcement related to violence.

Ethiop J Health Sci. Vol.16, No. 2 July 2006