Work

From the battlefield to the bedroom: a multilevel analysis of the links between political conflict and intimate partner violence in Liberia

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Assess the link between levels of armed conflict and postconflict intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by women in Liberia. METHODS: Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project data were used to measure conflict-related fatalities in districts in Liberia during the country's civil war from 1999 to 2003. These data were linked to individual-level data from the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey, including past-year IPV. Multilevel logistic models accounting for the clustering of women within districts evaluated the relationship of conflict fatalities with postconflict past-year IPV. Additional conflict measures, including conflict events and cumulative years of conflict, were assessed. RESULTS: After adjusting for individual-level characteristics correlated with IPV, residence in a conflict fatality-affected district was associated with a 50% increase in risk of IPV (adjusted OR (aOR): 1.55, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.92). Women living in a district that experienced 4-5 cumulative years of conflict were also more likely to experience IPV (aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.75). CONCLUSION: Residing in a conflict-affected district even 5 years after conflict was associated with postconflict IPV. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Recognising and preventing postconflict IPV violence is important to support long-term recovery in postconflict settings.

Source: BMJ Global Health

DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000668

Authors: Jocelyn T D Kelly, Elizabeth Colantuoni, Courtland Robinson, Michele R Decker

Institution: Johns Hopkins University

Language: English

Topic: Intimate Partner and Family Violence

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Gender equality, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,679