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- Zacarias, Antonio Eugenio, et al.
(author)
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Intimate partner violence against women in Maputo city, Mozambique
- 2012
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In: BMC International Health and Human Rights. - 1472-698X. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundThere is limited research about IPV against women and associated factors in Sub-Saharan Africa, not least Mozambique. The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence, severity, chronicity and "predictors" of IPV against women in Maputo City (Mozambique).MethodsData were collected during a 12 month-period (consecutive cases, with each woman seen only once) from 1,442 women aged 15--49 years old seeking help for abuse by an intimate partner at the Forensic Services at the Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo City, Mozambique. Interviews were conducted by trained female interviewers, and data collected included demographics and lifestyle variables, violence (using the previously validated Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2), and control (using the Controlling Behaviour Scale Revised (CBS-R). The data were analysed using bivariate and multivariate methods.ResultsThe overall experienced IPV during the past 12 months across severity (one or more types, minor and severe) was 70.2% (chronicity, 85.8 +/- 120.9).a Severe IPV varied between 26.3-45.9% and chronicity between 3.1 +/- 9.1-12.8 +/- 26.9, depending on IPV type. Severity and chronicity figures were higher in psychological aggression than in the other IPV types. Further, 26.8% (chronicity, 55.3 +/- 117.6) of women experienced all IPV types across severity. The experience of other composite IPV types across severity (4 combinations of 3 types of IPV) varied between 27.1-42.6% and chronicity between 35.7 +/- 80.3-64.9 +/- 110.9, depending on the type of combination. The combination psychological aggression, physical assault and sexual coercion had the highest figures compared with the other combinations.. The multiple regressions showed that controlling behaviours, own perpetration and co-occurring victimization were more important in "explaining" the experience of IPV than other variables (e.g. abuse as a child).ConclusionsIn our study, controlling behaviours over/by partner, own perpetration, co-occurring victimization and childhood abuse were more important factors in "explaining" sustained IPV. More investigation into women's IPV exposure and its "predictors" is warranted in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Mozambique.
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| 2. |
- Zacarias, Antonio Eugenio, et al.
(author)
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Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization in female victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence in Maputo City, Mozambique
- 2012
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In: International Journal of Women's Health. - 1179-1411. ; 4, s. 491-503
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Little knowledge exists in Mozambique and sub-Saharan Africa about the mental health (symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization) of women victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) by type of abuse (psychological aggression, physical assault without/with injury, and sexual coercion). This study scrutinizes factors associated with mental health among women victims and perpetrators of IPV over the 12 months prior to the study.Methods and materials: Mental health data were analyzed with bivariate and multiple regression methods for 1442 women aged 15–49 years who contacted Forensic Services at Maputo Central Hospital (Maputo City, Mozambique) for IPV victimization between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008.Results: In bivariate analyses, victims and perpetrators of IPVs scored higher on symptoms of mental health than their unaffected counterparts. Multiple regressions revealed that controlling behaviors, mental health comorbidity, social support, smoking, childhood abuse, sleep difficulties, age, and lack of education were more important in explaining symptoms of mental health than demographics/socioeconomics or life-style factors. Victimization and perpetration across all types of IPV were not associated with symptoms of mental health.Conclusion: In our sample, victimization and perpetration were not important factors in explaining mental ill health, contrary to previous findings. More research into the relationship between women’s IPV victimization and perpetration and mental health is warranted as well as the influence of controlling behaviors on mental health.
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| 3. |
- Zacarias, António Eugénio
(author)
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Women as victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Maputo City, Mozambique : occurence, nature and effects
- 2012
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a widespread bad behavior, and its effects on women’s lives encompass injuries, mental ill-health, decreased intimacy, and a financial burden. Growing evidence indicates that women also abuse their intimate male partners. The role of controlling behaviors in IPV remains controversial, but data, mainly from Western countries, indicate that both women and men use them. The situation (e.g., health condition) of women who have been victims or perpetrators of IPV indicates that they may fare poorly in various areas (e.g., have poorer mental health). The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate women’s experiences of IPV as both victims and perpetrators, the associated risk and protective factors, and the effects (including poor mental health). Methods: Data were collected between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008. They consist in consecutive cases of 1,442 women aged 15-49 years-old visiting Forensic Services at the Maputo Central Hospital (Maputo City, Mozambique) after IPV abuse. Interviews were conducted by trained female interviewers, and the data collected included demographic and life style factors, and previously validated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTC2) scores, Controlling Behavior Scale Revised (CBS-R) scores, and Symptoms Check List (SCL-90-R) scores. Further, Schedule for Social Interaction scores which had not been validated in SSA . Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, and applications of bivariate and multivariate techniques. Results: Study I: Overall experienced IPV during the past 12 months was 70.2% and chronicity was 85.8 times; 55.3% were severe acts of violence. Co-occurring victimization across all types was 26.8%. Having a middle/high educational level, divorce/separation, children at home, controlling behaviors, being a perpetrator oneself with co-occurring victimization, and childhood abuse were important factors in explaining sustained IPV. Study II: Overall inflicted IPV during the past 12 months was 69.4% and chronicity was 44.8 times; 48.9% were severe acts of violence. Co-occurring perpetration of IPV across all types was 14.5%. Having a middle/high educational level and a liberal profession/own business, divorce/separation, children at home, and high BMI, smoking, controlling behaviors (in particular, over one’s partner), co-occurring perpetration, being a victim oneself, and abuse as a child were important factors in explaining the inflicting of IPV. Study III: During the 12 past months, the numbers of women and men who had directed any kind of physical assault at their partner were similar, but there was divergence concerning the use of an act of sexual coercion. The most common type of relationship was non-violent, followed by situational couple violence (SCV). Childhood abuse was associated with mutual violent control (MVC).Study IV: Victims and perpetrators of IPV by type (psychological aggression, physical assault, sexual coercion, and physical assault with injury) scored higher on symptoms of depression, anxiety and somatization than their unaffected counterparts during the previous 12 months. Controlling behaviors, mental health comorbidity, childhood abuse, social support, smoking, sleep difficulties, age and lack of education were important factors in explaining mental health problems in women who were both victims and perpetrators of IPV across all types. Victimization and perpetration were not associated with poor mental health across all types of IPV. Conclusions: The thesis demonstrates that women seeking help for IPV abuse are widely victimized, but they also use violence against their male partners. In both cases, the rate of severe IPV and the chronicity level are high. The most violent relationship involves situational couple violence, but mutual coercive violence and intimate terrorism are fairly common. Victims and perpetrators report greater symptoms of mental health. The factors related to the different dimensions of symptoms of mental health are in general similar. Overall, the situation of help-seeking women is a source of great concern for many groups, e.g., care providers, since their suffering is extensive and deep, ranging from complex IPV experiences as victims and perpetrators to greater symptoms of mental health. This thesis may have important implications for the development of interventions to decrease sustained and inflicted IPV in Mozambique and to prevent its associated outcomes, e.g., mental ill-health.
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