Abstract:
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the commonest form of violence against women and has become a huge public health issue. Ethiopia is also one of the countries where the condition has been seriously happening; there is a dearth of information in the study area particularly to address the women’s response to IPV
Objective: To assess intimate partner violence prevalence, associated factors and women’s responses among women who gave birth between July and December, 2022 in Chelia district, West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
Methods: This is a community based cross-sectional mixed method study conducted on 327 in Chelia district women who gave birth in the period between 1st July and 31st December 2022. The study participants were selected by systematic random sampling method. Data was collected using structured questionnaires administered by interviewer for the quantitative part and 9 in-depth interview (IDI) was conducted for the qualitative study. Adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence interval (CI) was used to show the strength of association and P-value <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic method.
Result: Overall prevalence of IPV was 42.5% (95% CI=37.6, 47.9). The mean age of the participant was 27.36 (SD= 5.34). Women who do not have formal education (AOR= 4.26; 95%CI= 1.49, 12.21), partner who have no formal education (AOR=8.58; 95%CI=3.00, 24.57), partner who consume alcohol frequently (AOR=4.76; 95% CI= 2.40, 9.42), and partner who chew chat frequently (AOR=7.76, 95% CI=2.15, 28.03), gave birth to female infants (AOR=4.85; 95% CI=2.61, 9.00) and unplanned recent pregnancy (AOR=2.35; 95% CI=1.12, 4.89) were factors associated with IPV. The women’s respons to IPV were include not giving any response, running away, asking for help from other bodies, and separated from her partner. Conclusion: Above one third of postpartum women was experienced IPV. Both women’s and partner’s lower educational status, partner’s alcohol consumption and/or chewing chat habit, unplanned pregnancy and giving birth to female infant were the factors significantly associated with IPV. Running away, not gave any response, and asking for help from others were women’s respons to IPV. Women who experience IPV have complex needs and may need services, so community, district education office, women, and child and youth affaires office, and health care providers is essential for ensuring survivors’ access to comprehensive services
