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Partner’s controlling behavior as a mediator of the association between sociodemographic variables and risk of intimate partner violence in Haiti

Guéter Port-Louis, El Colegio de Mexico

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common in Haiti, but the mechanisms that may explain this phenomenon remain unexplored. This research aims to analyze the association between husband controlling behavior and IPV using mediation analysis to identify the direct and indirect effects of sociodemographic factors. To conduct this study, we use data from the 2016-2017 Demographic and Health Survey. We consider physical and sexual violence experienced in the past year by 3,292 women in unions. The results show that 10% and 7% of women experience physical and sexual violence, respectively. On average, women experienced several forms of control from their husbands (for example, not allowed to talk to other men, not allowed to visit friends or family, constant calls to find out where she is). Women in informal unions are more likely to experience physical and sexual violence than married women. Those who have witnessed that their fathers abuse their mothers are more likely to experience both forms of violence than their counterparts. Control by their husbands contributes between 18% and 32% to the risk of physical and sexual victimization for these women. Thus, control by husbands is a key factor that must be considered in programs/policies to prevent IPV.

Keywords: Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P4.