Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Substance Abuse Research

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue globally.
• Understanding the association between substance use and IPV is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) by sex in Mexico.
• To examine the association between IPV and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing data from the 2016 National Survey of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption in Mexico.
• Inclusion of 34,861 individuals aged 12 to 65 years.
• Logistic regression models were employed to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of IPV was 15.14%, with 18.16% for women and 11.89% for men.
• Significant associations were found between IPV and excessive alcohol consumption (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.38-1.96).
• Tobacco use (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.42-2.07), non-prescribed psychotropic medication use (OR: 3.72; 95% CI: 1.76-7.88), and marijuana use (OR: 3.06; 95% CI: 1.58-5.91) were also strongly associated with IPV.

Conclusions:

• The findings underscore the significant link between substance use and intimate partner violence in Mexico.
• Results support the need for multisectoral interventions and enhanced psychosocial competencies.
• Improving the quality and accessibility of mental health and addiction services is essential for addressing IPV.