Intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration among female youth and adults in Myanmar

Abstract

The aim of this investigation is to estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration among female youth and adults in Myanmar. In the nationally representative cross-sectional 2015-16 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey, a sample of ever married women (15-49 years) (N=3425) were interviewed about IPV. Results indicate that a past 12-month prevalence of IPV physical violence victimization of 10.2%, IPV sexual violence victimization of 2.2%, IPV physical violence perpetration of 5.9% and IPV bidirectional physical violence of 2.3%. In adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses, younger age, lower, wealth status, frequent drunk husband, marital control behaviours by husband, justification of wife beating and parental IPV were associated with past 12-month physical and/or sexual IPV victimization. Marital control behaviours by husband and parental IPV were associated with past 12-month physical IPV violence perpetration. IPV prevention programmes should include the reduction of violent gender norms, male control of female behaviour and problem drinking among men.

Keywords: psychological partner violence, physical partner violence, sexual partner violence, partner violence perpetration, women, Myanmar