Ethnic disparities in intimate partner violence reported across 37 countries

Researchers analyzed Demographic and Health Survey data collected from 2010 to 2023 for 295,623 women aged 15–49 years across 37 low- and middle-income countries. They compared the prevalence of physical, sexual and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) across ethnic groups within each country, using Theil indices to assess inequality. Fairlie decomposition was used to estimate how measured household, relationship and individual factors statistically accounted for differences between groups with higher and lower IPV prevalence.

Theil indices indicated statistically significant ethnic disparities in physical IPV in 29 countries, sexual IPV in 21 and psychological IPV in 26. Partner alcohol use accounted for an estimated 13.6% of physical IPV differences, 8.0% of sexual IPV differences and 38.3% of psychological IPV differences. Witnessing parental IPV accounted for 6.3%, 4.6% and 17.9%, respectively. Household decision-making and women’s education also contributed to sexual IPV differences; attitudes toward violence contributed to psychological IPV differences.

The findings identify substantial variation by country, ethnic group and IPV outcome, and point to factors associated with observed disparities. Because this was a cross-sectional analysis, the decomposition describes statistical contributions and does not establish causes. The authors note that context-specific factors underlying these differences warrant further research.