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

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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%) 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% and 10.5%, 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 decision-making pattern also emerged as a predictor of IPV. Likelihood of all forms of IPV increases with increase of number of participation in household decision-making. Promoting women empowerment in the household without men’s support may put women at more risk of IPV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan

    Mosfequr Rahman & Satoru Makinoda

  2. Department of Medical Informatics, Niigata University of Medical and Dental Hospital, 1-754 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata-shi, 951-8520, Japan

    Md. Aminul Hoque

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  1. Mosfequr Rahman
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  2. Md. Aminul Hoque
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  3. Satoru Makinoda
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Correspondence to Mosfequr Rahman.

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Rahman, M., Hoque, M.A. & Makinoda, S. Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: Is Women Empowerment a Reducing Factor? A Study from a National Bangladeshi Sample. J Fam Viol 26, 411–420 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-011-9375-3

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