The Association Between Intimate Partner Violence and Anemia Among Ethiopian Women in Their Reproductive Age (15-49...

Background: In Ethiopia, there is a high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and anemia, yet there is limited empirical evidence on the potential link between these two public health problems. This study was aimed at investigating the potential association between IPV and anemia among Ethiopian women aged 15-49 years old. Methods: We used secondary data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). All women who participated in the domestic violence module of the EDHS were studied. The exposure variable was the experience of physical, sexual, or emotional violence, as well as controlling behaviors, perpetrated by a current or former partner. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level of < 11.0 g/dL for pregnant women and < 12.0 g/dL for nonpregnant women. Multilevel binomial logistic regression models, which accounted for EDHS's hierarchical data structure and adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and fertility-related factors, were applied. Results: Among the 4265 individuals included in the analysis, 1081 (25.4%) women had anemia. Notably, 64.1% of women have experienced at least one form of IPV, while 13.1% have experienced multiple forms of IPV. Significant associations were observed between IPV and anemia (adjusted odds ratio [AORs] 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.78). Furthermore, the odds of anemia were 1.6 times higher (AOR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.26-2.06) among women who had experienced multiple acts of IPV compared to those who had experienced none. Conclusion: The association between IPV and anemia suggests the importance of integrating IPV screening tools and intervention strategies into women's nutrition programs.