Socio-demographic associates of tolerant attitudes toward intimate partner violence against women in Kosovo

ABSTRACT

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most common forms of the violence against women. IPV involves but is not limited to physical, sexual and emotional abuse and controlling behaviour by an intimate partner (WHO, 2012). This paper aimed to explore the gender differences and socio-demographic factors associated with attitudes on IPV against women using a representative sample in Kosovo. This article relies on secondary data analysis of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in Kosovo. The Kosovo MICS sample was designed to provide estimates for a large number of indicators at national, urban, and rural levels. In total, 5251 women and 2165 men age 15–49 years participated in interviews. The findings indicate that tolerant attitudes toward IPV against women in specific hypothetical situations are more acceptable among women: who live in rural areas, who have lower secondary education, and those who have lower wealth index income and report less access to media (TV and newspapers/magazine). Findings from this study provide valuable information of how factors situated at different levels of social ecology, individual, institutional, and material level interplay within themselves while contributing to the maintenance of traditional gender norms among both men and women.

KEYWORDS:

• Socio-demographic associates
• Attitudes
• Intimate partner violence
• Kosovo

Notes

¹ The male questionnaire was administrated to half of the selected households (see detailed explanation in sample design section).

² According to MICS, the wealth index is a composite indicator of wealth. The study performed principal components analysis by using information on the ownership of consumer goods, dwelling characteristics, water and sanitation, and other characteristics that are related to the household’s wealth, to generate weights (factor scores) for each of the items used.