Correlates of marital dissolution among ever-married women in Cameroon: a cross-sectional demographic and health survey

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the factors associated with marital dissolution among women in Cameroon. METHODS: The 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey data was used. A sample of 4,562 women was selected from the domestic violence module. Frequency distributions, Chi-square tests, and Complementary Loglog regressions were used to establish the factors that were associated with marital dissolution among married women in Cameroon. RESULTS: Over one in ten women (11%) of the ever-married women experienced marital dissolution. Marital dissolution was more among women from older age groups (35-39 and 40-49 years); certain regions e.g. Adamawa (aOR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.05-3.47), Centre region (aOR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.38-4.27), Far-north (aOR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.10-3.00) and North-west (aOR = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.36-5.17); and in urban residence (aOR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.12-2.19). In addition, MD was higher among women from the poorer wealth quintile (aOR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.05-2.67); working status (aOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.03-1.84); those whose partners had control behavior (aOR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.29-2.47) and those who experienced any form of IPV (aOR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.42-2.56). Conversely, MD was less among women who had six to nine children (aOR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.21-0.82), and ten or more children (aOR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.07-0.81); and those economically empowered (aOR 0.48; 95% CI: 0.33-0.70). CONCLUSIONS: Marital dissolution in Cameroon was higher among older women, from some regions (Adamawa, Centre, Far North, and North West), urban residents, the poorest wealth quintile, being employed, those with partners' controlling behaviors, and intimate partner violence. Conversely, MD was lower among women who had a higher number of children ever born and were economically empowered (owned property alone or jointly with their spouses).