{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nIntimate partner violence (IPV) remains a major public health and human rights concern in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examined the association between multidimensional empowerment and IPV among married or cohabiting women using the Survey-based Women's Empowerment (SWPER) Global Index.Methodology\n\nWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the most recent Demographic and Health Survey data collected between 2010 and 2023 in 21 Sub-Saharan African countries. The study included 90,807 married or cohabiting women aged 15-49 years. Women's empowerment was measured using the three SWPER Global domains. Survey-weighted bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine associations with IPV, with adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals reported.Results\n\nPooled IPV prevalence was 12.4% (2.0% in Mauritania to 30.8% in Sierra Leone). High empowerment in the attitudes-towards-violence domain (aOR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.55-0.63) and social-independence domain (aOR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.92) was associated with lower odds of IPV. Decision-making empowerment was not independently associated with IPV (high vs. low: aOR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.98-1.13). Primary education was associated with slightly higher odds of IPV (aOR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00-1.16), and higher education was associated with lower odds (aOR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61-0.93). Older age (aORs = 1.37-1.96), cohabitation (aOR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.04-1.19), primary education (aOR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00-1.16), parity of two or more (aORs = 1.39-1.52), several occupational groups (aORs = 1.17-1.45), and partner's secondary education (aOR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.13-1.34) were associated with higher odds of IPV. In contrast, Islamic affiliation (aOR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.82-0.96), richer or richest wealth status (aORs = 0.91 and 0.81) were associated with lower odds.Conclusion\n\nWomen's empowerment is associated with IPV in a multidimensional manner. Prevention efforts should support women's agency while also addressing unequal power within relationships, norms that tolerate violence, and barriers to survivor-centered services.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Ministry of Education, Kigali, Rwanda.",
    "Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.",
    "Rwanda Implementation Science and Health Systems Labs, Kigali, Rwanda.",
    "Upper West Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Wa, Ghana."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "John Mugisha"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Theophile Dushimirimana"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Munawar Harun Koray"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2yc7v1x1gkhpg.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fgwh.2026.1929589",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13682984",
  "id": "2yc7v1x1gkhpg",
  "issns": [
    "2673-5059"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908622",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3306|Intimate Partner and Family Violence"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220845965",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13682984?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13682984",
  "pmid": "42908622",
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2yc7v1x1gkhpg.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:53Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42908622",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908622"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Women's empowerment and its association with intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa: a study using recent demographic and health surveys.",
  "title_text": "Women's empowerment and its association with intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa: a study using recent demographic and health surveys.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:53Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2yc7v1x1gkhpg",
  "venue": "Frontiers in global women's health",
  "versions": []
}