relationship between intimate partner violence and maternal practices to correct child behavior: a study on women in Egypt

This paper scrutinizers the association between maternal practices to correct child behavior and the mothers' exposure to and attitudes towards intimate partner violence [IPV]. Nationally representative data comprising 14 016 married women were retrieved from the Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey, 2005. Data on practices used to correct child behavior, exposure to IPV, attitudes towards IPV were our primary interest. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and logistic regression. The majority of the mothers reported use of violent methods, like shouting [90.6%], striking [69.1%] and slapping [39.3%] to correct child behavior. Seven percent of the mothers used only the explanation option. Exposure to physical IPV and tolerant attitudes towards IPV were associated with an augmented risk of using violent methods [shouting, striking or slapping] to correct child behavior. On the other hand non-tolerant attitudes towards IPV were associated with increased likelihood of sole use of the explanation method. We thus recommend the implementation of local parental education programs focusing on communicative skills to reduce IPV and related child abuse

Women's attitudes towards discontinuation of female genital mutilation in Egypt

To examine women's attitude towards discontinuation of female genital mutilation [FGM] in association with their access to information, knowledge of health effects and cultural beliefs concerning FGM in Egypt. A cross-sectional study of 9159 women, using data from the household survey in Egypt by Demographic and Health survey 2003. A comprehensive questionnaire covering attitudes towards FGM, demographics, and access to information was used. Chi-square analysis and logistic regression were applied to investigate how demographics, levels of education, access to information, knowledge of health consequences and cultural beliefs influence women's attitudes towards FGM. Among the demographic variables, discontinuation of FGM was independently associated with urban residency and post-secondary education. Moreover, woman who were informed by the media, and those who had attended community meetings, church, or mosque where FGM was discussed, as well as women who were aware of the negative health consequences of FGM, were more likely to support discontinuation of FGM. By contrast, women with positive cultural conceptions of FGM were less likely to favor its discontinuation. Public education and information dissemination aiming to change current cultural notions favoring FGM practice - through community and religious leaders, and radio and television programs - may play an important role in modifying women's attitudes towards FGM. These findings have some implications for intervention and policy

Factors associated with disclosure of intimate partner violence among women in Lagos, Nigeria

Though the prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence [IPV] remains high in less development countries, data suggest that these figures may represent an underestimation considering that many women are unwilling to disclose abuse. This paper aims to determine women's willingness to report abuse, factors determining willingness to disclose IPV, and to whom such disclosure is made. A total of 911 women visiting reproductive health facility responded to the questionnaire, and the collected data was analyzed using multivariate analysis. About 54% [n=443] of the participating women reported that would not disclose IPV. Among those willing to disclose abuse, 68% [n=221] would opt to disclose to close relatives in contrast to 36% [n=103] who would disclose to some form of institutions [i.e. religious leaders, law enforcement officers]. Ethnicity, woman's own use of alcohol and autonomy in decision making such as having a say on household purchases, money use and visitation, independently predicted willingness to disclose IPV