Domestic violence among married women of reproductive age in Zimbabwe: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence does not only violate women's fundamental human rights but it also undermines them from achieving their fullest potential around the world. This study was conducted to assess trends and factors associated with domestic violence among married women of reproductive age in Zimbabwe. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study which used secondary data obtained from 2005/06, 2010/11 and 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Surveys (ZDHS). Respondents ranged from married or living with a partner (15-49 years). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with domestic violence. RESULTS: Out of 4472 women who were currently married, 1907 (42.7%) had ever experienced one form of domestic violence (physical, emotional and sexual violence). Women aged 40-49 was deemed a protective factor against domestic violence. Risk of domestic violence was higher among working women than unemployed women [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.047]. Women who drink alcohol significantly risk experiencing domestic violence compared to their non-drinking counterpart; also women whose husbands drink alcohol were at higher risk of experiencing domestic violence [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.001]. Domestic violence was higher among women whose husbands have ever experienced their fathers beating their mothers and significant for women whose husbands have more than one wife (polygamy) [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.001]. High parity (5 or more children) was also a risk factor for domestic violence among the studied population [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.038]. CONCLUSION: Domestic violence was found to be strongly associated with women whose husbands drink alcohol, products of abusive parents/father beating their mother and/or polygamous marriage (had more than one wife). Domestic violence still remains a challenge and a more biting policy efforts are needed to eradicate this public health canker in Zimbabwe.

Knowledge, attitude and associated factors towards tuberculosis in Lesotho: a population based study.

BACKGROUND: Lesotho has one of the highest rates of tuberculosis (TB) incidence and TB-HIV co-infection in the world. Our study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and associated factors towards TB in the general population of Lesotho. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis from the Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS) 2014 was carried out among 9247 respondents. We used the chi-square test as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the associations of socio-demographic variables with respondent knowledge of and attitude towards TB. RESULTS: The overall knowledge of TB in the general population of Lesotho was adequate (59.9%). There was a significant difference between female and male respondents regarding knowledge about TB (67.0% vs. 41.8%). Almost 95% of respondents had "heard of an illness called tuberculosis", and 80.5% knew that TB can be cured. Only 11.5% knew the correct cause of TB (TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Female respondents were relatively aware of TB, knew about the correct cause and mode for transmission of TB and knew that TB is a curable disease compared to male respondents. A higher proportion of respondents (72.8%) had a positive attitude towards TB. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.45, 95% CI: 2.10-2.86; p < 0.001), age (AOR) =1.76, 95% CI: 1.29-2.41; p < 0.001), educational level (AOR = 6.26, 95% CI: 3.90-10.06; p < 0.001), formerly married or cohabitated (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.10-1.85; p = 0.008), mass media exposure (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.08-1.64; p = 0.008) and occupation (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.00-1.44; p = 0.049) were strongly associated with respondent knowledge of TB. Sex (AOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01-1.41; p = 0.034), educational level (AOR = 1.661, 95% CI: 06-2.60; p = 0.028), mass media exposure (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.06-1.62; p = 0.012) and occupation (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04-1.52; p = 0.016) were strongly associated with respondent attitude towards TB. CONCLUSION: Strategies to improve the knowledge of Lesotho's people about TB should focus on males, young residents, those who are illiterate, those who are unmarried and farmers. Special attention should be given to males, young residents, rural residents, those who are illiterate and farmers to improve their attitude towards TB in Lesotho.

Determinants of modern contraceptive use among married women of reproductive age: a cross-sectional study in rural Zambia.

OBJECTIVE: Zambia is among the world's top 10 countries with higher fertility rate (5.5 births/woman); unmet family planning need for births spacing (14%) and limiting births (7%). Women in rural Zambia (24%) are reported to have unmet need for family planning than those in urban areas (17%). This study was conducted to ascertain factors associated with modern contraceptive use among rural Zambian women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Rural Zambia. PARTICIPANTS: Secondary data of 4903 married or cohabiting rural women (15-49 years) after filtering out the pregnant, urban based and unmarried women from 2013 to 2014 Zambian Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) were analysed using SPSS V.22. Multiple logistic regression, Pearson's χ2 and descriptive statistics were performed to examine factors associated with modern contraceptive use. RESULTS: Factors that were positively associated with contraceptive use were respondent's education (secondary adjusted ORs (AOR = 1.61, p≤0.002); higher (AOR = 2.39, p≤0.050)), wealth index (middle class, (AOR = 1.35, p≤0.005); rich (AOR = 2.04, p≤0.001) and richest (AOR = 1.95, p≤0.034)), high parity (1-2 (AOR = 5.31, p≤0.001); 3-4 (AOR = 7.06, p≤0.001); 5+ (AOR = 8.02, p≤0.001)), men older than women by <10 years (AOR = 1.50, p≤0.026) and women sensitised about family planning at health facility (AOR = 1.73, p≤0.001). However, old age (40-49 years (AOR = 0.49, p≤0.001)), other religions (Protestants, African traditionalists and Muslims) (AOR = 0.77, p≤0.007), ever had pregnancy miscarried, aborted or stillbirth (AOR = 0.78, p≤0.026) and women without knowledge of number of children husband desires (AOR = 0.71, p≤0.001) were negatively associated with contraceptive use. CONCLUSION: Modern contraceptive use in rural Zambia among currently married women of reproductive age group is relatively low (43%). We recommend that appropriate interventions are instituted to increase contraceptive access and use especially among uneducated older rural Zambian women.

Knowledge about mother-to-child transmission of HIV, its prevention and associated factors among Ethiopian women.

BACKGROUND: Poor awareness and knowledge of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT),that accounts for over 90% of new HIV infections among children, might contribute to the HIV epidemics. In Ethiopia, 898 400 children are orphaned due to HIV and AIDS and 200 300 were living with HIV in 2013. The main objective of this study was to examine the knowledge of MTCT of HIV, its prevention (PMTCT) and associated factors among Ethiopian women. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis among 16 515 women from the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) 2011. Chi-square test, univarate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to examine the associations of socio-demographic variables with women's correct knowledge of MTCT and PMTCT, assessed through five specific questions. FINDINGS: The overall correct knowledge of Ethiopian women about MTCT and PMTCT (correct answers to all the five questions) was very low (34.9%). In the multivariable analysis, residing in urban area (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.35-1.79; P < 0.001), having higher education (AOR = 3.25, 95% CI = 2.74-3.86; P < 0.001), belonging to higher wealth household (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.57-2.18; P < 0.001), currently in union (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.12-1.39; P < 0.001), occupation (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.17-1.44; P < 0.001) and being exposed to mass media (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.41-1.70; P < 0.001) were strongly associated with women's correct knowledge of MTCT and PMTCT. CONCLUSION: Strategies to improve the knowledge of MTCT and PMTCT in Ethiopia should focus on rural women, emerging regions, the poor, illiterate and unemployed women. Efforts are also needed to involve religious leaders and related organization in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.