Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Violence against women particularly that is committed by an intimate
partner is becoming a social and public health problem across the world. Studies from
different countries shows that the spatial variation in distribution of domestic violence
was commonly attributed by neighborhood level predictors. Despite the importance of
spatial techniques, studies that employ it in Ethiopia are limited. Therefore, the aim of
this study is to determine the spatial distribution and predictors of domestic violence
among women aged 15-49 in Ethiopia by using EDHS 2016 dataset.
Methods: Secondary data from EDHS 2016 was used to determine the spatial
distribution of domestic violence in Ethiopia. Spatial auto-correlation statistics
Result: The study found that spatial clustering of domestic violence cases in Ethiopia
with Moran’s I value of 0.26, Z score of 8.26, and P-value < 0.01. The Sat Scan analysis
find out 24 significant locations of domestic violence clusters. Among this, 10 are
primary clusters with RR 2.18, LLR of 39.55, and P-value < 0.01. The output from
regression analysis identifies low economic status, husband/partner alcohol use,
witnessing family violence as a child, marital controlling behaviors, and community
acceptance of wife-beating as significant predictors of domestic violence.
Conclusion and Recommendation: There is spatial clustering of d domestic violence
cases in Ethiopia. Areas with a high burden of the problem should get priority for
intervention. Comprehensive and collaborative action should be taken by involving
stakeholders at different levels. Specific activities may include organizing media on
awareness creation and continuous education on how to maintain a stable relationship
between couples and employing long term and intensive effort for transforming culture
and social norms that encourage violence against woman are among the major ones.
Keywords: Domestic violence, spatial distribution, EDHS, Ethiopia.
