Factors Associated with Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence in the 12 Months Preceding the Survey Among Ever-Partnered Women in South Africa

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a significant global issue, mostly affecting women. South Africa has among the highest rates of IPV and IPV-related fatalities globally. This study examines the factors influencing IPV among ever-partnered women, aged 18 to 49 years, in South Africa. This study analyzed secondary data from the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey, using a weighted sample of 4,169 women, aged 18 to 49 years. The study focused on the experience of IPV in the 12 months preceding the survey. Univariate, bivariate analysis (χ² test), and binary logistic regression analyses were used to explore the relationships between the selected factors and IPV. About 15.0% of women reported experiencing IPV. The findings showed that women aged 18 to 19 years (AOR: 2.23), 25 to 29 years (AOR: 2.10), those with primary (AOR: 1.84) and secondary education (AOR: 1.71), those who witnessed parental violence (AOR: 1.96), accepted wife-beating (AOR: 2.83), and whose partner drank alcohol (AOR: 2.67) had significantly higher odds of experiencing IPV. Conversely, employed women (AOR: 0.74), and women from middle-wealth (AOR: 0.64) and rich households (AOR: 0.58) had lower odds of experiencing IPV. Furthermore, the odds of women experiencing IPV were more than three times higher in the Western Cape (AOR: 3.32), Eastern Cape (AOR: 3.02), and North West (AOR: 3.33) than in the other provinces. The study highlights critical socio-demographic and behavioral factors influencing IPV among women in South Africa. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions and challenging societal norms on violence is important in preventing IPV.