The relationship between intimate partner violence and probable depression among adolescent girls and young women in Lilongwe, Malawi

ABSTRACT

This analysis estimates prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with probable depression among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Lilongwe, Malawi, and whether partner’s controlling behaviour modifies this relationship. Baseline data was utilised from the Girl Power-Malawi study of 1000 15–24-year-old AGYW in Lilongwe. Emotional, physical, and sexual IPV experiences with a current or recent partner were measured using the modified Conflict Tactics Scale. Probable depression was measured by scoring ≥10 on the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies-Short Depression Scale (CES-D-10). Generalised linear models with log-link and binomial distribution estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between IPV types and probable depression. Partner’s controlling behaviour was examined as an effect modifier. Participants’ mean age was 19.2 years, with 70% never-married. IPV prevalence varied for emotional (59%), physical (36%), sexual (46%), and all forms (20%). Prevalence of probable depression was 47%. AGYW who experienced each IPV type had a higher prevalence of probable depression: physical (PR:1.54, CI:1.28–1.86), sexual (1.46, CI:1.21–1.75), emotional (1.37, CI:1.14–1.64), all forms (1.72, CI:1.41–2.09). IPV and probable depression were prevalent and strongly associated, especially among AGYW reporting controlling behaviour. Interventions addressing IPV and controlling behaviour may positively impact depression among AGYW.

KEYWORDS:

• Intimate partner violence
• depression
• adolescent girls
• young women
• Malawi

Acknowledgements

All persons who have contributed significantly to the study or manuscript are included in the author list. The authors would like to acknowledge the work of the whole Girl Power team, including the research officers, peer educators, and facilitators, as well as the study participants for sharing their data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

ORCID

Linda-Gail Bekker http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0755-4386

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Evidence for HIV Prevention in Southern Africa (EHPSA), a Department of International Development (DFID) programme managed by Mott MacDonald. NER is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R00MH104154) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (P30 AI50410).