Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: Is Women Empowerment a Reducing Factor? A Study from a National Bangladeshi Sample

• NCJ Number: 235354
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 26 Issue: 5 Dated: July 2011 Pages: 411-420
• Author(s): Mosfequr Rahman; Md. Aminul Hoque; Satoru Makinoda
• Date Published: July 2011
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article explores how women empowerment affects Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Bangladesh.

Abstract

This article explores how women empowerment affects Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Bangladesh using a cross-sectional investigation of currently married women (n=4,181) sampled via the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS), 2007. About one-fourth (24 percent) of currently married Bangladeshi women experienced both physical and/or sexual IPV in the past year. Prevalence of physical and sexual violence was 19.4 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively. Younger generation (age 15-24), illiterate, rural, and the poorest household wealth categorized women were much victimized. Current employment status predicted intimate partner violence. Household decisionmaking pattern also emerged as a predictor of IPV. Likelihood of all forms of IPV increases with increase of number of participation in household decisionmaking. Promoting women empowerment in the household without men's support may put women at more risk of IPV. (Published Abstract)