Prevalence and factors associated with intimate partner violence against women in The Gambia: a population-based...

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, studies that investigated factors associated with IPV among Gambian women are limited. In this study, we examined the prevalence and factors associated with the different forms of IPV against Gambian women. We used a sample of 3,116 currently married women age (15 ~ 49 years) from The Gambia Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with Physical Violence (PV), Sexual Violence (SV), and Emotional Violence (EV). Over 40% (n = 1,248) of women reported at least one form of IPV. The prevalence of PV, SV and EV was 20.6%, 4.3%, and 15.1% respectively. Women married at age 18 ~ 24 (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]_SV = 1.55), lived with 3 ~ 4 (aOR_PV = 1.69; aOR_EV = 2.10) and ≥5 (aOR_PV = 1.77; aOR_EV = 2.64) children, witnessed parental violence (aOR_PV = 1.66; aOR_SV = 2.75; aOR_EV = 2.25), partner's primary education (aOR_PV = 1.76), accused of unfaithfulness (aOR_PV = 2.42; aOR_SV = 3.62; aOR_EV4.10), and partner's alcohol consumption (aOR_PV = 2.56; OR_SV = 3.91; aOR_EV = 2.82) are more likely to report IPV. Conversely, women who lived in Kerewan area (aOR_PV = 0.43; aOR_SV = 0.38; aOR_EV = 0.50), had high income (aOR_PV = 0.65), Wolof (aOR_PV = 0.68) and Jola (aOR_PV = 0.65) ethnicity and unemployed (aOR_PV = 0.59; aOR_SV = 0.56) were less likely to report IPV. Interventions to prevent IPV should focus on education on its effects, and programs that reject sociocultural practices as determinants of IPV.