Abstract
Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive global health issue with severe physical, emotional, and social consequences for women. In Southern Africa, where IPV rates are high, understanding the factors contributing to IPV is crucial for developing efective interventions. This study examines the factors associated with IPV among ever-partnered women in Malawi and South Africa, two countries with difering socioeconomic contexts but similarly high IPV prevalence.
Method Data from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) was used, including 7,760 ever-partnered
women aged 15–49 from Malawi and South Africa. IPV was defned as lifetime physical, sexual, or emotional violence
by a current or former partner and measured as a binary variable (yes/no). The independent variables included age,
education, employment, place of residence, wealth status, partner alcohol use, autonomy, inequitable gender attitudes, and IPV history. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was applied to identify IPV-related factors.
Results Findings revealed that women from Malawi were more likely to experience IPV than women from South
Africa (aOR=2.36, 95% CI=1.97–2.83; p<0.001). Women aged 25–29 years (aOR=1.21, 95% CI=1.03–1.42; p=0.018)
and 30–34 years (aOR=1.30, 95% CI=1.11–1.52; p=0.001) were more likely to experience IPV than those aged
15–24 years. Women with higher education were less likely to experience IPV (aOR=0.62, 95% CI=0.44–0.88;
p=0.007). Employed women were more likely to experience IPV (aOR=1.13, 95% CI=1.01–1.26; p=0.037). Women
from the rich household wealth index (aOR=0.81, 95% CI=0.70–0.93; p=0.003) were less likely to experience IPV
than those in the poor wealth index. Women whose partners consumed alcohol (aOR=2.98, 95% CI=2.66–3.33;
p<0.001), with greater autonomy (aOR=1.82 95% CI=1.56–2.12; p<0.001), inequitable gender attitudes (aOR=1.82,
95% CI=1.56–2.12; p<0.001), and IPV history (aOR=1.93, 95% CI=1.72–2.18; p<0.001) were more at increased risk
of IPV.
Conclusion This study identifies key factors for designing targeted interventions to prevent IPV and improve
women’s well-being in Southern Africa