Magnitude and correlates of gender-based violence among married women in Northwest Ethiopia

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