Prevalence of intimate partner violence across urban, rural and estate sectors: A preliminary study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women continues to be a silent health problem in Sri Lanka. Studies on IPV across different socio-demographic divisions are limited, thus uniform approaches are used to address IPV despite the varying prevalence across different study settings. OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of IPV across the urban, rural and estate sectors through a study conducted in Nawalapitiya Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Area. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was designed to conduct with 701 ever-married women aged 15-49 years using a multistage cluster sampling method. A pre-tested interviewer-administered-questionnaire was used to assess the abuse experienced by the participants during lifetime and past twelve months in the form of physical, psychological, sexual acts and controlling behaviours. Bivariate analysis was performed to compare the prevalence of IPV among the three sectors. RESULTS: The response rate was 85.6% (n=600). Lifetime prevalence of physical (n=237; 39.5%), psychological abuse (n=234; 39.0%) and controlling behaviours (n=188; 31.3%) were high among everpartnered women. Estate women reported more abuse (n=143; 79.4%), physical (n=110; 61.1%), psychological (n=99; 55%), sexual abuse (n=29; 16.1%) and controlling behaviours (n=62; 34.4%) compared to urban and rural women. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS: IPV prevalence significantly differed across sectors. IPV was highest in the estate sector followed by urban and rural sectors. Designing of IPV intervention should focus on different sectors. The contributory factors within the sectors should be explored and addressed. KEYWORDS: Physical abuse, Psychological abuse, Sexual abuse, Women, Sri Lanka