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Individual- and community-level factors associated with intimate partner controlling behavior among women in Somaliland: a multilevel analysis of the 2020 Somaliland demographic and health survey

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Intimate partner controlling behavior (IPCB) is a key manifestation of coercive control and an important precursor to other forms of intimate partner violence. Despite its adverse consequences for women's autonomy, mental health, and well-being, evidence on the prevalence and factors associated with IPCB in Somaliland remains limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify the individual- and community-level factors associated with IPCB among ever-married women in Somaliland. Methods: < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of IPCB was 26.7% (95% CI: 25.8-27.6%; unweighted prevalence 25.1%). Women aged 25-29 years (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.01-2.53), those with primary education (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.44-2.00), and women from middle- (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.20-1.77) and rich-wealth households (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.30-1.88) had higher odds of experiencing IPCB. Conversely, joint healthcare decision-making (AOR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.60-0.79), current pregnancy (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63-0.85), marriage at ages 19-26 years (AOR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.63-0.80) or >26 years (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.49-0.81), household size of 4-7 members (AOR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.71-0.92), partner employment (AOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.68-0.87), and residence in Marodijeh, Togdheer, Sool, and Sanaag regions were associated with lower odds of IPCB. Conclusion: Approximately one in four ever-married women in Somaliland experienced intimate partner controlling behavior, underscoring IPCB as an important public health and gender equality concern. Both individual- and community-level factors were significantly associated with women's odds of experiencing IPCB, highlighting the need for multilevel interventions that strengthen women's decision-making autonomy, delay early marriage, promote girls' education, and implement context-specific strategies to prevent coercive control and advance gender equality.

Source: Frontiers in Public Health

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1953781