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Prevalence and predictors of partner violence against women in the aftermath of war: A survey among couples in Northern Uganda

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  • Saile, Regina
  • Neuner, Frank
  • Ertl, Verena
  • Catani, Claudia

Abstract

Violence against women that is perpetrated by an intimate partner prevails as one of the most widespread human rights violations in virtually all societies of the world. Women in resource-poor countries, in particular those affected by recent war, appear to be at high risk of experiencing partner violence. Although there has been a longstanding assumption that organised violence at a societal level is transmitted to an interpersonal level, little is known about the link between exposure to war and familial violence. We conducted an epidemiological survey in 2010 with 2nd-grade students and their male and female guardians from nine heavily war-affected communities in Northern Uganda employing structured interviews and standardized questionnaires. The present study analysed a subsample of 235 guardian couples from seven rural communities in order to determine the prevalence and predictors of current partner violence experienced by women in the context of the past war. Study results revealed a high prevalence of ongoing partner violence experienced by female partners. In the past year, 80% of women reported at least one type of verbal/psychological abuse, 71% were exposed to at least one type of physical abuse, 52% suffered isolation and 23% fell victim to sexual violence. Findings from linear regression analyses showed that women's prior exposure to war-related traumatic events, women's re-experiencing symptoms and men's level of alcohol-related problems were associated with higher levels of partner violence against women. Differential effects of the predictor variables emerged with respect to different subtypes of partner violence. The findings suggest that partner violence against women constitutes a major problem in rural Northern Uganda. Programmes for the prevention and reduction of partner violence against women need to address high levels of hazardous drinking in men as well as women's prior traumatisation. In addition, different patterns of partner violence should be taken into account.

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  • Saile, Regina & Neuner, Frank & Ertl, Verena & Catani, Claudia, 2013. "Prevalence and predictors of partner violence against women in the aftermath of war: A survey among couples in Northern Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 17-25.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:86:y:2013:i:c:p:17-25
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.02.046
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gage, Anastasia J., 2005. "Women's experience of intimate partner violence in Haiti," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 343-364, July.
    2. Jewkes, Rachel & Levin, Jonathan & Penn-Kekana, Loveday, 2002. "Risk factors for domestic violence: findings from a South African cross-sectional study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(9), pages 1603-1617, November.
    3. Annan, Jeannie & Brier, Moriah, 2010. "The risk of return: Intimate partner violence in Northern Uganda's armed conflict," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 152-159, January.
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    3. Kien Le & My Nguyen, 2022. "War and Intimate Partner Violence in Africa," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    4. Sriskandarajah, Vathsalan & Neuner, Frank & Catani, Claudia, 2015. "Predictors of violence against children in Tamil families in northern Sri Lanka," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 257-265.
    5. Orsola Torrisi, 2021. "The long echo of war. Early-life exposure to armed conflict and female experiences of intimate partner violence," HiCN Working Papers 358, Households in Conflict Network.
    6. Kidman, Rachel & Palermo, Tia & Bertrand, Jane, 2015. "Intimate partner violence, modern contraceptive use and conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 2-10.
    7. Green, Eric P. & Blattman, Christopher & Jamison, Julian & Annan, Jeannie, 2015. "Women's entrepreneurship and intimate partner violence: A cluster randomized trial of microenterprise assistance and partner participation in post-conflict Uganda (SSM-D-14-01580R1)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 177-188.
    8. Kelly,Jocelyn TD & Rubin,Amalia Hadas & Ekhator-Mobayode,Uche Eseosa & Arango,Diana Jimena, 2021. "The Risk That Travels with You : Links between Forced Displacement, Conflict and Intimate PartnerViolence in Colombia and Liberia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9825, The World Bank.
    9. Bharati, Tushar, 2022. "The long shadow of the Kargil War: The effect of early-life stress on education," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    10. Kohli, Anjalee & Perrin, Nancy & Mpanano, Remy Mitima & Banywesize, Luhazi & Mirindi, Alfred Bacikenge & Banywesize, Jean Heri & Mitima, Clovis Murhula & Binkurhorhwa, Arsène Kajabika & Bufole, Nadine, 2015. "Family and community driven response to intimate partner violence in post-conflict settings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 276-284.
    11. Tushar Bharati, 2021. "The Long Shadow of the Kargil War: The Effect of Early-life Stress on Education," HiCN Working Papers 347, Households in Conflict Network.
    12. Ekhator-Mobayode,Uche Eseosa & Kelly,Jocelyn Thalassa Deverall & Rubin,Amalia Hadas & Arango,Diana Jimena, 2021. "Intimate Partner Violence and Household Decision Making Autonomy : Effects of the Malian Conflict on Women," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9821, The World Bank.
    13. Gudrun Østby, 2016. "Violence Begets Violence: Armed conflict and domestic sexual violence in Sub-Saharan Africa," HiCN Working Papers 233, Households in Conflict Network.

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