Childhood inter-parental violence exposure and dating violence victimization among 20-24 years old undergraduates in Dar es salaam

Abstract

Introduction: Several studies worldwide show a relationship between witnessing inter-parental violence (IntPV) and childhood abuse exposure and low self-esteem, depression, alcohol abuse, acceptance of non-equitable gender norms and male entitlement as risk factors of dating violence victimization (DVV). There is lack of documented studies on the prevalence and associated risk factors of DVV among undergraduates in Tanzanian universities. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of DVV and childhood IntPV witnessing during childhood in a University undergraduate populationaged 20-24 years old at MUHAS in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; and determine the associations between DVV and IntPV and other risk factor including alcohol and substance use, depression, self-esteem, accepting non-equitable gender norms and male entitlement. Study Design: A quantitative cross-sectional analytic study was used to respond to the study objectives. Methodology: Proportionate random sampling was used to select participants from undergraduate programmesto be representative of the target population, giving each in the population an equal chance to be selected. Structured questionnaires that wereself-administered were used to collect sociodemographic measures, dating violence (DV) occurrence and selected risk factors associated with DV. Results: Half of the population studied experienced childhood violence, reported by men (54.9%; n=112) than women (33.7%; n=62; p<0.001). About a quarter of men and women be (24.2%; n=94) reported being exposed in childhood to emotional inter-parental violence; with rates in men being 27.5% (n=56) and women 20.7% (n=38; p=0.13). Overall, any form of recent DVV (in past 12 months) was reported by 73.5%, rates in women and men being 76.1% (n=140) and 71.1% (n=145; p=0.30) respectively. Multivariate analyses using a full effects model showed not knowing the age of a current intimate partner compared to the partner being older than 25 years (OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.08, 0.52; p=0.001) and moderate compared to high self esteem (OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.46, 1.49; p=0.07) were independently associated with DVV reducing this risk by 79% and 17% respectively; this effect being significant for the former and marginally significant for the latter. Furthermore, the absence of any childhood abuse compared to its reporting (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.38, 0.86; p=0.007) reduced by 27% the likelihood of reporting recent DVV. However, interaction effects of sex were detected and findings of sex desegregated multivariate analysis showed; not knowing the age of a current sexual partner compared to the partner being 25 years or older remained a significant risk factor, reducing the likelihood of reporting DVV by 78% in women (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.07, 0.75; p=0.02) and 79% (OR 0.11; 95% CI 0.02, 0.75; p=0.02) in men; moderate compared to higher self esteem increased by almost 2.5 times reporting DVV in men (OR 2.43; 95% CI 0.99,5.93 p=0.05) but not women (OR 1.38; CI 0.50, 3.86 p=0.54); and holding moderate versus strong gender inequitable norms amongst men was protective, reducing the risk of reporting DVV by 59% in men but not women. With none of the more distal risk factors assessed having associations with recent DVV in either men or women. Conclusions and Recommendations: This study found high prevalence of DVV in undergraduate students as well as childhood violence exposures. In examining associations between witnessing inter-parental violence and current DVV exposures outcomes, findings suggest support to the theory of male entitlement in intimate relationship dynamics as a risk factor for DVV in men. Further they suggest increased familiarity and emotional commitment to one’s partner may be associated with DVV using the proxy measure of knowledge or not of the age of one’s current sexual partner. While no associations were found between witnessing inter-parental violence and DVV, associations between DVV and lower compared to higher levels of self esteem may suggest underlying difficulties with emotional regulation that may be caused by childhood violence exposures. In concluding this study provides preliminary findings which suggest need for better designed studies such as as longitudinal cohort studies, to assess causal relationships between childhood witnessing IntPV and DVV during young adulthood in University undergraduates. Such studies may also better identify protective fators in this population sub-group providing important information to guide interventions in the Tanzanian context.