Socio-economic determinants of intimate-partner physical violence among women in South Africa

IntroductionIntimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a worldwide public health and human rights problem that occurs in various forms which includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. It is commonly perpetrated by the male intimate partner. This phenomenon cuts across the global South reg...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Keatlegile Mabena, Wandile Tsabedze, Xolisa Mazibuko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1499263/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850098067708051456
author Keatlegile Mabena
Wandile Tsabedze
Xolisa Mazibuko
author_facet Keatlegile Mabena
Wandile Tsabedze
Xolisa Mazibuko
author_sort Keatlegile Mabena
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionIntimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a worldwide public health and human rights problem that occurs in various forms which includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. It is commonly perpetrated by the male intimate partner. This phenomenon cuts across the global South regions, including South Africa. In South Africa, women bear the brunt of intimate-partner physical violence, there is a need to reduce femicide and highlight the preponderance of intimate-partner physical violence in South Africa.MethodsThe main objective is to explore the socio-economic determinants of IPV among women in South Africa. Data are drawn from the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016. The total sample (8,514) of women aged 15–49 years was selected and interviewed for domestic violence. The sampling method used for the survey conducted was a stratified sample selected in two stages, with enumeration areas (EA) as the sampling units for the first stage. Univariate analysis was performed to show the distribution of the variables in the study followed by bivariate analysis (Pearson's chi-square statistics) showing the relationship between individual variables and the dependent variable.ResultsUsing multivariate analysis (Binary regression model) to determine the socio-economic variables revealed the significance of p < 0.01–p < 0.04, p < 0.005–p < 0.009 and p < 0.005, associated with the dependent variable while controlling for the effects of other variables. The results revealed significant Odds Ratios (ORs) that highest educational attainment, ORs (1.565), wealth index, ORs (poorer = 0.883, middle = 0.924), employment status ORs (1.073), current marital status, ORs (married = 0.425, living together = 0.479, divorced/separated = 0.422), and justifying wife-beating ORs (yes = 3.030).ConclusionThis shows the need for policymakers to address physical violence by placing an emphasis on formulation of programmes and policies that empower women through education, employment, and political participation.
format Article
id doaj-art-d3f5599b7459446ea7a54af8d4ed0247
institution DOAJ
issn 1664-1078
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Psychology
spelling doaj-art-d3f5599b7459446ea7a54af8d4ed02472025-08-20T02:40:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-03-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14992631499263Socio-economic determinants of intimate-partner physical violence among women in South AfricaKeatlegile MabenaWandile TsabedzeXolisa MazibukoIntroductionIntimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a worldwide public health and human rights problem that occurs in various forms which includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. It is commonly perpetrated by the male intimate partner. This phenomenon cuts across the global South regions, including South Africa. In South Africa, women bear the brunt of intimate-partner physical violence, there is a need to reduce femicide and highlight the preponderance of intimate-partner physical violence in South Africa.MethodsThe main objective is to explore the socio-economic determinants of IPV among women in South Africa. Data are drawn from the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016. The total sample (8,514) of women aged 15–49 years was selected and interviewed for domestic violence. The sampling method used for the survey conducted was a stratified sample selected in two stages, with enumeration areas (EA) as the sampling units for the first stage. Univariate analysis was performed to show the distribution of the variables in the study followed by bivariate analysis (Pearson's chi-square statistics) showing the relationship between individual variables and the dependent variable.ResultsUsing multivariate analysis (Binary regression model) to determine the socio-economic variables revealed the significance of p < 0.01–p < 0.04, p < 0.005–p < 0.009 and p < 0.005, associated with the dependent variable while controlling for the effects of other variables. The results revealed significant Odds Ratios (ORs) that highest educational attainment, ORs (1.565), wealth index, ORs (poorer = 0.883, middle = 0.924), employment status ORs (1.073), current marital status, ORs (married = 0.425, living together = 0.479, divorced/separated = 0.422), and justifying wife-beating ORs (yes = 3.030).ConclusionThis shows the need for policymakers to address physical violence by placing an emphasis on formulation of programmes and policies that empower women through education, employment, and political participation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1499263/fullintimate-partner physical violenceSouth Africawomensocio-economicdeterminants
spellingShingle Keatlegile Mabena
Wandile Tsabedze
Xolisa Mazibuko
Socio-economic determinants of intimate-partner physical violence among women in South Africa
Frontiers in Psychology
intimate-partner physical violence
South Africa
women
socio-economic
determinants
title Socio-economic determinants of intimate-partner physical violence among women in South Africa
title_full Socio-economic determinants of intimate-partner physical violence among women in South Africa
title_fullStr Socio-economic determinants of intimate-partner physical violence among women in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Socio-economic determinants of intimate-partner physical violence among women in South Africa
title_short Socio-economic determinants of intimate-partner physical violence among women in South Africa
title_sort socio economic determinants of intimate partner physical violence among women in south africa
topic intimate-partner physical violence
South Africa
women
socio-economic
determinants
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1499263/full
work_keys_str_mv AT keatlegilemabena socioeconomicdeterminantsofintimatepartnerphysicalviolenceamongwomeninsouthafrica
AT wandiletsabedze socioeconomicdeterminantsofintimatepartnerphysicalviolenceamongwomeninsouthafrica
AT xolisamazibuko socioeconomicdeterminantsofintimatepartnerphysicalviolenceamongwomeninsouthafrica