Determinants of domestic physical violence: an empirical analysis on Bangladesh MICS 2019 dataset

Violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights. Estimates published by WHO indicate that globally, about 1 in 3 (30%) of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical or sexual intimate partner violence. The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2007 found that over 50% of married women reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence (IPV), including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. This study attempts to understand the determinants of domestic physical violence for designing effective policies and interventions aimed at reducing domestic violence. This study uses cross-sectional secondary data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019, focusing on physical assault among Bangladeshi women. The MICS is a nationally representative survey that collects data on various indicators including women’s health and physical assault. 969 out of 49,172 women faced domestic violence. Logistic regressions were used to determine significant determinants influencing domestic violence. We used women’s experience of domestic physical violence as the dependent variable and some related independent variables, e.g., women’s residence, wealth, higher education, different functional difficulties among women, husband’s polygamy, access to the internet etc. The study found that only 7% of domestic violence is reported to the police (Pearson Chi2 p-value < 0.001). There was significant variation across divisions. The highest prevalence of domestic violence was observed in Khulna (29%), followed by Rangpur (24%) and Dhaka (19%). Women’s residence (OR of those residing in urban area = 1.56, p-value < 0.100), wealth (OR = 0.656, p-value < 0.010), higher education (OR = 0.485*), different functional difficulties among women (OR = 1.320–1.758, p-value < 0.010), husband’s polygamy (OR = 2.132, p-value < 0.010), internet access (OR = 0.518, p-value < 0.010) were found significant determinants of domestic violence. The factors driving domestic violence among Bangladeshi women are multifaceted and context-dependent. While education, financial independence, and autonomy can act as protective factors, the interplay of traditional practices like dowry, gender norms, and socio-economic conditions creates a complex risk environment. This study highlights the importance of understanding how these factors evolve over a woman's life, which is crucial for developing effective policies and interventions to reduce domestic violence.