Association between child marriage and intimate partner violence. A comparative analysis of Uganda Demographic Health Surveys 2011 and 2016

The incidence of child marriage (CM) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are high in Uganda. The study sought to assess the association between child marriage and IPV across two waves of the Ugandan Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS). The evidence is important to inform policy implementation strategies aimed at curbing child marriages and IPV. We analyzed data from UDHS 2011 and 2016. The analysis was restricted to women who have ever cohabited. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the association between child marriage and IPV. Following the 2011 and 2016 UDHS findings, child marriage was 54.7% in 2011 and 47.4% in 2016. Child marriage among the current adolescents increased from 9.4% in 2011 to 14.2% in 2016. According to UDHS 2011, 40.0% and 39.0% experienced physical and sexual violence respectively. In 2011 and 2016, 23.1% and 17.4% experienced both physical and sexual violence. There are higher odds of physical violence among child marriages compared to adult marriages in 2011 and 2016 (AOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.12-1.84 in 2011 and AOR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.12-1.42). A wealthy or educated woman has lower odds (AOR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.41-0.91 and AOR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.25-0.66) to experience both physical violence and sexual violence than a poor or uneducated one. Alcohol is the most common cause of IPV. A woman married to an husband who consumes alcohol has higher odds of experiencing physical, sexual or both physical and sexual violence as compared to someone whose husband did not consume alcohol (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI:1.61-3.09 in 2011 and AOR = 2.42; 95% CI: 2.15-2.73 in 2016) Intimate Partner Violence is associated with child marriage, level of education, wealth quintile, residence, and partner’s alcohol consumption. Much emphasis needs to be directed to cultural, as well as social economic factors but more specifically on the contribution of women emancipation/empowerment to prevent IPV. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The author did not receive any funding to develop this manuscript ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Not Applicable The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: A written request to use the 2016 UDHS was submitted and approved by Measure DHS. The analysis was performed in accordance with relevant regulations and guidelines. Data used in this study was anonymized before use. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Not Applicable I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Not Applicable I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Not Applicable at * CM : Child marriage IPV : Intimate Partner Violence OR : Odds Ratio UDHS : Uganda Demographic and Health Survey WHO : World Health Organization