The Association between Alcohol and Intimate ...

The Association between Alcohol and Intimate Partner Violence in Sub Saharan Africa

Author Name : Tawari E. P., Akusu I. O, Gashua I. B

ABSTRACT

Background: Alcohol-related intimate partner violence (IPV) is a gradually becoming a global health issue. Alcohol use and alcohol abuse has been consistently linked to intimate partner violence.This study aimed to ascertain the association between alcohol and IPV in sub-Saharan Africa

Methods: This study did not collect primary data but accessed data of the demographic and health survey of ten sub Saharan Africa countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). This quantitative study used secondary analysis and meta-analysis to analyze cross-sectional data from the demographic and health surveys of ten countries in sub Saharan Africa.

Results: A meta-analysis of the ten countries included in this study showed an odds ratio of 2.91 (95%CI, 2.24-3.39) for physical IPV which shows that women whose husbands abuse alcohol are almost thrice as likely to experience IPV than women whose husbands do not abuse alcohol. This shows a strong association between alcohol and intimate partner violence in sub Saharan Africa.

Conclusion: Alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse increases the odds of intimate partner violence in some countries.

Key words: Alcohol, Alcohol abuse, Intimate Partner Violence, Sub-Saharan Africa