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Lineage Heterogamy and Intimate Partner Violence Among Women in Ghana
1Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
Social Currents
|July 28, 2025
Summary
Lineage heterogamy did not significantly predict intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ghana. However, homogamous couples showed significant IPV differences, particularly patrilineal women in patrilineal unions.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Public Health
- Anthropology
Background:
- Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a significant global public health issue.
- Understanding the socio-cultural factors influencing IPV vulnerability is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Lineage systems, particularly patrilineal and matrilineal structures, may influence relationship dynamics and violence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between lineage heterogamy and intimate partner violence (IPV) among Ghanaian women.
- To test the hypothesis that women in lineage-heterogamous unions experience higher rates of IPV compared to those in homogamous unions.
- To explore how socioeconomic status and relationship dynamics mediate the association between lineage and IPV.
Main Methods:
- Utilized nationally representative cross-sectional data from 1,789 Ghanaian women (aged 18+).
- Employed random-effect logit models to analyze the association between lineage heterogamy and IPV.
- Controlled for socioeconomic characteristics and relationship dynamics in the statistical models.
Main Results:
- The study found weak to no support for the hypothesis that lineage heterogamy increases IPV risk.
- A partial association was observed for sexual, psychological, and economic violence, where patrilineal women in matrilineal unions reported higher IPV before controlling for other factors.
- Significant differences in IPV experiences persisted for homogamous couples, with patrilineal women in patrilineal unions experiencing higher rates of sexual, psychological, and economic violence.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between lineage, socioeconomic status, and IPV vulnerability in Ghana is complex and multifaceted.
- Lineage heterogamy alone is not a strong predictor of IPV; other factors play a more significant role.
- Homogamous unions, particularly patrilineal ones, present a higher risk for specific forms of IPV among Ghanaian women, underscoring the need for context-specific interventions.
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