Abstract:
Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a
major public health and human rights problem with
mult iple sexual and reproduct ive healt h
complications worldwide. This study was conducted
to assess the magnitude of gender-based violence and
its associated factors among married women in
Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study
was conducted from January to June 2015 using the
Worl d Healt h Organizat ion mult i-count ry
questionnaire to measure violence against women.
Trained data collectors interviewed 832 married
women were select ed by syst emat ic random
sampling technique. Epi info version 6.0 for data
entry and SPSS version 20 for analysis were used.
Data were principally analyzed using descriptive
statistics, binary logistic regression.
Results: Six hundred and twenty (74.5%; 95%CI:
71. 5%-77. 3 %) of t he marri ed women had
experienced at least one type of GBV in their lifetime
and 41.8% (95%CI: 38.3%-45.1%) in the last 12
months. GBV included psychological violence in a
life time 62.3% and in the last 12 months 35.6%;
physical violence in life time 56.1%and in the last
12 months 27.9%; and sexual violence in life
time30.6%, and in the last 12 months 15.5% were
reported. Older women those in multiple sexual
partnership or union, stayed in relationship or in
union with their husband for <10years, age difference
with their current husband of >5years, early child
marriage, offer of sexual intercourse for monetary
gains or for business purpose and alcohol intake were
factors associated with an increased risk of genderbased
violence.
Conclusions: Gender-based violence was found to
be high and a serious problem among married women
in Northwest Ethiopia. Comprehensive community
based health education program and strengthening
of women empowerment are necessary to improve
this situation
