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Intimate partner violence against women in Ethiopia and its association with unintended pregnancy: a national cross-sectional survey
Authors: Tenaw Yimer Tiruye, Melissa L. Harris, Catherine Chojenta, Elizabeth Holliday, and Deborah Loxton
Source: International Journal of Public Health, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-020-01510-3
Topic(s): Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
Unintended pregnancy
Country: Africa
  Ethiopia
Published: OCT 2020
Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and unintended pregnancy among women in Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of nationally representative data was conducted among 2969 married women of reproductive age (15–49 years). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association of IPV with the outcome variable. Results: Unintended pregnancy was reported by 26.5% of women. About 36% of participants reported having ever experienced IPV (a composite measure of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse) and 56% had experienced at least one act of partner controlling behaviour. After controlling for potential confounders, a significant association was observed between IPV and unintended pregnancy (AOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.05, 1.85) and between multiple acts of partner controlling behaviours and unintended pregnancy (AOR 1.57, 95% CI 1.16, 2.14). Conclusions: In Ethiopia, which has a high fertility rate (4.6 children per woman) and low use of contraception (36%), IPV including partner controlling behaviour further contributes to the problem of unintended pregnancy. Reproductive health programs should be sensitive to the relational aspects of fertility control and incorporate IPV interventions into reproductive health services.
Web: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00038-020-01510-3