Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence Among Married Women: A Multilevel Analysis Across 20 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Acceptance of intimate partner violence reflects patriarchal gender norms that can normalize violence against women. Women surveyed between 2019 and 2022 were substantially less likely to justify intimate partner violence than those in earlier surveys, which the authors suggest may reflect shifting social norms and greater awareness. Education and women’s decision-making autonomy may help challenge traditional gender roles, while rural environments may reinforce harmful norms. The findings highlight the importance of addressing patriarchal norms, particularly in rural communities.
Objectives To identify individual- and country-level factors associated with married women’s attitudes toward intimate partner violence across 20 low- and middle-income countries in South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods The study analyzed nationally representative, cross-sectional Demographic and Health Survey data from 282,537 married women aged 15–49 using two-level hierarchical models. Acceptance of intimate partner violence was measured by whether women believed a husband was justified in hitting or beating his wife in any of five situations: going out without telling him, neglecting the children, arguing with him, refusing sex, or burning food. Individual and country-level factors were examined, including education, wealth, decision-making, media exposure, residence, age at marriage, survey period, region, and gross domestic product per capita.
Results Overall, 37.1% of women justified intimate partner violence in at least one circumstance. Rural residence was associated with higher acceptance, while higher education, greater wealth, higher partner education, household decision-making power, older age, and later marriage were associated with lower acceptance. Women with higher education had 46% lower odds and women with decision-making power had 24% lower odds of acceptance than their respective reference groups. Surveys conducted in 2019–2022 were associated with 47% lower odds of acceptance than earlier surveys.
Conclusions Reducing acceptance of intimate partner violence requires strengthening women’s education, economic opportunities, and decision-making autonomy while promoting gender equality and challenging traditional patriarchal norms, particularly in rural communities.
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