Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence in Ghana

Abstract

This study bridges a knowledge gap in existing literature by investigating correlates of male perpetrated intimate partner violence in Ghana. Based on a review of literature, it was hypothesized that some sociodemographic factors would be associated with the experience of male perpetrated physical, psychological, and sexual intimate violence in Ghana. To examine this hypothesis, data were collected from a convenience but nonreferral sample of 443 women, using a structured instrument. Descriptive statistics showed that 27%, 62%, and 34% of the sample, respectively, had experienced past-year physical, psychological, and sexual violence. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, using some 15 sociodemographic factors as predictors. The analyses showed that women in rural settings had 1.71 and 2.20 times the odds of experiencing psychological and physical violence, respectively; women who were younger than their husbands had 2.67 and 5.71 times the odds of experiencing psychological and sexual violence, respectively; women whose husbands were unemployed had 2.41 and 2.58 times the odds of experiencing psychological and physical violence, respectively; women whose husbands had nonmarital sexual partners had 2.10 and 2.33 times the odds of experiencing psychological and physical violence, respectively; women who rated their health as good had 2.10 and 2.39 times the odds of experiencing psychological and sexual violence, respectively; and women whose husbands did not appreciate them had 2.22 and 2.57 times the odds of experiencing physical and sexual violence, respectively. Low education and polygamous marriage were also related to psychological violence. Policy and practice implications of the findings are discussed.