Key Social Norms Take-aways Attitudes accepting wife beating were strongly associated with all forms of intimate partner violence, pointing to deep-rooted patriarchal norms that can normalize violence within relationships. The discussion also suggests that traditional norms supporting intimate partner violence may contribute to greater sexual violence in rural areas and that women’s employment or increased autonomy can sometimes generate backlash when existing gender and power relations are challenged. These findings emphasize that prevention efforts should address the socio-cultural norms and unequal power relations that sustain violence, alongside strengthening women’s agency and resources.

Objectives The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of physical, emotional, and sexual intimate partner violence among married women across East Africa and identify individual-, household-, and community-level factors associated with these forms of violence.

Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed Demographic and Health Survey data from 56,657 married women across 12 East African countries. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to simultaneously examine factors associated with physical, emotional, and sexual violence. Social norms-related measures included women’s attitudes toward wife beating, measured as whether women justified wife beating, as well as women’s decision-making autonomy. Husband controlling behavior was modeled as a latent construct using indicators including jealousy, accusations of unfaithfulness, restricting women’s contact with friends and family, and insisting on knowing their whereabouts.

Results Overall intimate partner violence prevalence was 38.03%; physical violence was 26.15%, emotional violence 26.06%, and sexual violence 11.6%. Women who justified wife beating had significantly higher odds of physical (adjusted odds ratio 1.58), emotional (1.25), and sexual violence (1.55). Husband controlling behavior was also strongly associated with physical (1.92), emotional (2.32), and sexual violence (1.82). Women’s decision-making autonomy was associated with higher odds of emotional violence (1.17) but lower odds of sexual violence (0.76), illustrating the complex relationship between women’s empowerment and partner violence. Husband alcohol consumption was another particularly strong correlate of all three violence outcomes.

Conclusions Intimate partner violence remains highly prevalent among married women in East Africa and reflects interacting individual, relational, social, and structural determinants. The authors conclude that violence is shaped partly by socio-cultural norms and power relations and recommend comprehensive prevention strategies that promote gender equality, education, women’s economic and decision-making empowerment, and community-level efforts to challenge harmful norms.