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.