Factors Affecting Domestic Violence among Married Women in Zambia
Thankian Kusanthan
Department of Gender Studies, University of Zambia, Zambia
Sidney O. C. Mwaba
Department of Psychology, University of Zambia, Zambia
J. Anitha Menon *
Department of Psychology, University of Zambia, Zambia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The objective of the study was to analyze and determine the factors associated with different types of domestic violence (physical, emotional and sexual) in Zambia. The data for the study was derived from the Zambia Demographic Health Survey carried out by Central Statistical Office in 2007. The study was based on a sample of 7146 married women. Data was analyzed using Bivariate and Binary Logistic Regression. The results indicated that 43%, 23% and 15% of respondents reported having experienced physical violence, emotional violence and sexual violence, respectively. Furthermore, physical, emotional and sexual violence were significantly associated with wealth status, marital duration, place of residence, had sexually transmitted diseases in the last 12 months among married women in Zambia. Women residing in rural areas experienced physical violence 1.9 times more than those residing in urban areas.
The husbands’ alcohol consumption was found to be the most prominent factors significantly explaining variation in the prevalence of emotional violence. The findings from the study suggest that poverty, patriarchal culture, strictly defined gender roles, and lack of programs for reintegrating victims, subordinate women and leave them susceptible to domestic violence. Hence intervention programs that target men or both husband and wife are recommended.
Keywords: Physical violence, emotional violence, sexual violence, sexually transmitted disease, domestic violence