Prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women in Bangladesh amid COVID-19 pandemic

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06619
• Publication Date: 2021-03-31T01:03:09Z
• Authors: Istihak Rayhan; Khaleda Akter
• Keywords: H1-99; Bangladesh; Science (General); Emotional violence; 1. No poverty; COVID-19; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health; Social sciences (General); Q1-390; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 5. Gender equality; Economic downturns; Physical violence; 10. No inequality; Sexual violence; Research Article

Abstract Background: The study attempted to explore the prevalence and associated factors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Bangladesh amid the COVID-19 pandemic. IPV is a complete violation of women's human rights and a dominant chronic global public health problem. Methods: The target population of the study was Bangladeshi married women, aged between 16 to 49 years, and lived with an intimate partner. Data were collected from Dhaka city with eight other districts of Bangladesh, and among 605 married women response rate was 84.30%. WHO multi-country study tools for screening domestic violence were used to screen emotional, physical, and sexual violence. Results: The study found the prevalence of IPV about 45.29%, where emotionally abused 44.12%, physically 15.29%, sexually 10.59%, and either physically or sexually 19.22%. Adjusted with marital duration, residence, women’s level of education, husband’s age, and monthly family income, multivariate logistic regression results revealed that comparatively older women, employed, non-Muslims and women with educated husband were less likely to experience violence, while arranged marriage, family income reduction amid the pandemic and husbands’ pandemic induced depression or anxiety caused more likely to commit violence. Limitations: Self-reported cross-sectional study has some methodological limitations, and the present study is not free from them. Conclusions: The study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the associated factors of IPV amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which will help to make preventive policy.