Prevalence and determinants of time to first intimate partner violence incidents among ever-married Ethiopian women

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Intimate partner violence (IPV), including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse disproportionately affects women globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE : This study examined the timing and determinants of first experiences of IPV among ever-married Ethiopian women. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING : The study analyzed nationally representative data from 4720 ever-married women who participated in the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. METHODS : Cox proportional hazards and parametric accelerated failure time (AFT) models were used to identify factors influencing time to first IPV. Women who had not experienced IPV by the survey date or who reported IPV occurring before marriage were treated as right-censored. Multiple AFT distributions were compared, and the best-fitting models were selected. RESULTS : Approximately 30 % of women reported experiencing at least one form IPV, most commonly emotional (22.3 %). The log-normal AFT model best fit physical and sexual violence, while the Weibull AFT model fit emotional violence. Older women (35–49 years) experienced IPV later than younger women (time ratios [TR]: 2.09 physical, 2.82 sexual, 3.00 emotional). Husband's alcohol use, controlling behavior, family violence history, and fear of the husband were associated with earlier IPV occurrence (TR < 1). More children delayed physical and emotional violence (TR > 1), while older age at marriage predicted earlier emotional violence (TR = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS : Age, regional differences, family background, and husbands' behaviors significantly influence the timing of IPV onset among Ethiopian women. Targeted prevention programs addressing harmful partner behaviors, alcohol use, and intergenerational violence are essential to delay or prevent IPV and safeguard women's wellbeing.