Patterns, prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence and its association with mental health status during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study on early married female adolescents in Khulna district, Bangladesh

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to identify the patterns, prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) against female adolescents and its association with mental health problems.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Settings: Dumuria Upazila (subdistrict) under the Khulna district of Bangladesh.

Participants: A total of 304 participants were selected purposively based on some specifications: they must be female adolescents, residents of Dumuria Upazila and married during the COVID-19 pandemic when under 18 years of age.

Outcome measures: By administering a semi-structured interview schedule, data were collected regarding IPV using 12 five-point Likert scale items; a higher score from the summation reflects frequent violence.

Results: The findings suggest that the prevalence of physical, sexual and emotional IPV among the 304 participants, who had an average age of 17.1 years (SD=1.42), was 89.5%, 87.8% and 93.7%, respectively, whereas 12.2% of the participants experienced severe physical IPV, 9.9% experienced severe sexual IPV and 10.5% experienced severe emotional IPV. Stepwise regression models identified age at marriage (p=0.001), number of miscarriages (p=0.005), education of spouse (p=0.001), income of spouse (p=0.016), age gap between spouses (p=0.008), marital adjustment (p<0.001) and subjective happiness (p<0.001) as significant risk factors. Hierarchical regression, however, indicated that age at marriage (p<0.001), age gap between spouses (p<0.001), marital adjustment (p<0.001) and subjective happiness (p<0.001) had negative associations with IPV, while the number of miscarriages (p<0.001) had a positive relationship. Pearson's correlation showed that IPV was significantly associated with depression, anxiety and stress.

Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in IPV and mental health problems among early married adolescents was documented. To reduce physical and mental harm and to assure their well-being, preventive and rehabilitative measures should be devised.

Keywords: COVID-19; child & adolescent psychiatry; mental health; public health.