Women’s perceptions and traits of violence are highly predictive of their likelihood of seeking help against violence. Even though intimate partner violence is a huge challenge in Africa, there is a low level of help-seeking behavior.
Approximately four out of ten women were seeking help for intimate partner violence in East Africa. Husbands consume alcohol, women’s high educational status, and women having occupations were the factors that were associated with help-seeking behaviors against intimate partner violence.

Author

Mamaru Melkam, Angwach Abrham Asnake, Yohannes Mekuria Negussie, Meklit Melaku Bezie, Zufan Alamrie Asmare, Hiwot Altaye Asebe, Beminate Lemma Seifu, Bezawit Melak Fente

Citation

Melkam M, Asnake AA, Mekuria Negussie Y, Bezie MM, Asmare ZA, Asebe HA, Seifu BL, Fente BM. Help-seeking behaviors and determinant factors among women exposed to intimate partner violence in East Africa based on recent demographic and health survey data: a multilevel analysis. Front Psychiatry. 2024 Sep 26;15:1402704. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1402704. PMID: 39391082; PMCID: PMC11464300.

Source
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Release date
26/09/2024

Help-seeking behaviors and determinant factors among women exposed to intimate partner violence in East Africa based on recent demographic and health survey data: a multilevel analysis

Original research article

Abstract

Introduction

Human rights violations and violence against women are serious public health issues that have numerous detrimental repercussions on one’s physical, emotional, sexual, and reproductive health. According to studies, women’s perceptions and traits of violence are highly predictive of their likelihood of seeking help against violence. Even though intimate partner violence is a huge challenge in Africa, there is a low level of help-seeking behavior.

Conducting this study at the East African level on help-seeking behavior can provide a clue for policy-makers. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the prevalence of help-seeking behavior against intimate partner violence and determinant factors among women in East Africa.

Method

Multilevel logistic regression analysis was carried out among East Africans using recent demographic and health survey data. A total of 7,387 participants aged 15 to 49 years were included in this study from East African countries. Individual- and community-level variables were considered to determine the associated factors with help-seeking behaviors against intimate partner violence.

Results

The prevalence of help-seeking behavior against intimate partner violence among women was 38.07%. Husbands consume alcohol [AOR = 1.46], women who have work [AOR = 1.33], and women with higher educational status [AOR = 1.36] were factors associated with help-seeking behavior against intimate partner violence.

AOR = adjusted odd ratio.

Conclusion

Approximately four out of ten women were seeking help for intimate partner violence in East Africa. Husbands consume alcohol, women’s high educational status, and women having occupations were the factors that were associated with help-seeking behaviors against intimate partner violence.

What the study says about alcohol

The study mentions “alcohol” twelve times.

For example, alcohol is part of a list of determinants of help seeking behavior by women experiencing gender-based violence: Wealth index, mass media exposure, place of residence, education level, women’s autonomy in household decision-making, partner’s controlling behavior, current employment status, partner’s education, and partner’s alcohol use were associated with help-seeking survivors of intimate partner violence.

46%
Women victims of violence with partners who consume alcohol
Among a total of 7,387 participants aged 15 to 49 years from East African countries, 46.01% had partners who had consumed alcohol.

Among a total of 7,387 participants aged 15 to 49 years from East African countries, 46.01% had partners who had consumed alcohol.

Partner’s alcohol use, higher educational level of women, and women who have occupations were significantly associated with help-seeking behavior for their violence.

The odds of having help-seeking behavior for their violence among study participants who have husbands who drink alcohol was 1.46 times higher compared with the study participants whose husbands did not consume alcohol [AOR = 1.46].

1.46
Odds of women seeking help against violence when their husband consumes alcohol
The odds of having help-seeking behavior for their violence among study participants who have husbands who drink alcohol was 1.46 times higher compared with the study participants whose husbands did not consume alcohol.

The husband consuming alcohol is one of the associated factors with help-seeking behaviors. This link is consistent with other studies conducted in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Africa.

The research write that this association could be because of the effect of consuming alcohol; the user may act violently and make other people less willing to discuss a peaceful solution to the conflict in the relationship. Moreover, binge alcohol use can cause other household pressures like financial hardships, children issues, and marital challenges, which enable women to seek help to solve those problems against violence.

Conclusion

Nearly four out of ten participants were seeking help for intimate partner violence in East Africa. Husbands consuming alcohol, women’s high educational status, and women having occupations were the factors that were associated with help-seeking behaviors against intimate partner violence.

Enhancing the level of education and women’s employment in different jobs is crucial for them to raise a response of help-seeking for IPV. This finding can be used as a clue for policymakers and other stakeholders who need to raise the behavior of help-seeking. Future researchers are recommended to conduct advanced methods to predict the exact barriers of help-seeking behavior.

Source Website: Frontiers