Jennifer A Wagman1, Blake Charvat2, Marie E Thoma3, Anthony Ndyanabo4, Fred Nalugoda4, Joseph Ssekasanvu5, Grace Kigozi4, David Serwadda6, Joseph Kagaayi4, Maria J Wawer5, Ronald H Gray5. 1. Division of Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0507, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0507, USA. jwagman@ucsd.edu. 2. Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. 3. Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, 4200 Valley Drive Bldg 255, College Park, MD, USA. 4. Rakai Health Sciences Program, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Nakiwogo Road, P.O Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda. 5. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 627 N. Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. 6. Makerere University School of Public Health, Old Mulago Hill Road, New Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We assessed the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and union disruption (divorce or separation) in the rural Ugandan setting of Rakai District. METHODS: We analyzed longitudinal data collected from April 1999 to June 2006, from 6834 women (15-49 years) living in 50 communities in Rakai. Participants were either officially married, traditionally married or in a consensual union during one or more surveys and completed at least one follow-up survey. The primary outcome was union disruption through divorce or separation from the primary sexual partner. RESULTS: Past year IPV ranged from 6.49 % (severe physical abuse) to 31.99 % (emotional abuse). Severe physical IPV was significantly associated with divorce/separation, after adjusting for other covariates (aOR = 1.80, 95 % CI 1.01-3.22). Another predictor of union disruption was a woman having two or more sexual partners in the past year (aOR = 8.42, 95 % CI 5.97-11.89). Factors protecting against divorce/separation included an increasing number of co-resident biological children and longer duration of union. CONCLUSIONS: IPV, particularly severe physical abuse, is an important risk factor for union disruption. Marital counseling, health education and interventions should address the role of IPV on the wellbeing of women and the stability of couples in Uganda.
OBJECTIVES: We assessed the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and union disruption (divorce or separation) in the rural Ugandan setting of Rakai District. METHODS: We analyzed longitudinal data collected from April 1999 to June 2006, from 6834 women (15-49 years) living in 50 communities in Rakai. Participants were either officially married, traditionally married or in a consensual union during one or more surveys and completed at least one follow-up survey. The primary outcome was union disruption through divorce or separation from the primary sexual partner. RESULTS: Past year IPV ranged from 6.49 % (severe physical abuse) to 31.99 % (emotional abuse). Severe physical IPV was significantly associated with divorce/separation, after adjusting for other covariates (aOR = 1.80, 95 % CI 1.01-3.22). Another predictor of union disruption was a woman having two or more sexual partners in the past year (aOR = 8.42, 95 % CI 5.97-11.89). Factors protecting against divorce/separation included an increasing number of co-resident biological children and longer duration of union. CONCLUSIONS: IPV, particularly severe physical abuse, is an important risk factor for union disruption. Marital counseling, health education and interventions should address the role of IPV on the wellbeing of women and the stability of couples in Uganda.
Entities:
Keywords:
Divorce; Global health; Intimate partner violence; Longitudinal analysis; Sub-Saharan Africa; Union dissolution
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