Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Domestic violence does not only violate women’s fundamental human rights but it also undermines them from achieving their fullest potential around the world. This study was conducted to examine trends and factors associated with domestic violence among married women of reproductive age in Zimbabwe to empirically inform policy and relevant stakeholders in curtailing this public health concern. This was a cross-sectional study that used data obtained from 2005/06, 2010/11 and 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Surveys (ZDHS). Respondents ranged from married or living with a partner (15-49 years). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with modern contraceptive use. Out of 4472 women who were currently married, 1907 (42.7 %) had ever experienced one form of domestic violence (physical, emotional and sexual violence). The risk of domestic violence was higher among working women than unemployed women. Women who drink alcohol significantly risk experiencing domestic violence compared to their non-drinking counterparts; also women whose husbands drink alcohol were at higher risk of experiencing domestic violence. Domestic violence was higher among women whose husbands have ever experienced their fathers beating their mothers and significant for women whose husbands have more than one wife. High parity was also a risk factor for domestic violence among the studied population. Domestic violence was found to be strongly associated with women whose husbands drink alcohol, products of abusive parents/father beating their mother and/or polygamous marriage.