Mapping Violence Against Women in Bangladesh: A Multilevel Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data

This paper maps spatial and demographic variation in reports of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Bangladesh. Data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 2007 are used in this analysis. In addition to the usual demographic and health questions, the survey administered a special module on violence which included questions on women’s experience of physical and sexual violence, attitudes of acceptance of violence towards women and family history of violence. While overall reports of physical and sexual violence among women are high, our analysis is able to capture some telling patterns of demographic and spatial variation using multi-level modeling techniques. Exploring the influences of individual, spousal and community characteristics (normative attitudes, poverty and educational level) we confirm several strong patterns: reports of IPV in the past year is highest among the youngest women and declines with woman’s own age. While early marriage is not itself associated with IPV reports, large age differences between spouses is predictive of violent relationships. Women’s own education and having more education than husbands is strongly protective while poverty and women’s work is associated with reports of higher violence. Women who work and are active in non-family institutions report higher violence.