Abstract

Background: Violence against women is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon. It has an adverse consequence on overall aspects of women’s health and wellbeing as well as on the survival and wellbeing of children. The prevalence of help-seeking and disclosure varies widely between countries. So, the objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with help-seeking behaviour among women who experienced physical and sexual violence in Ethiopia.

Method: Using the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS), this paper analyzes the key determinants of help seeking behavior of women who experienced physical and sexual violence in Ethiopia. EDHS used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. A total of 1540 (weighted) reproductive age women were included in the analysis. Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were employed as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of 0.05.

Results: Less than one fourth (22.5%) of reproductive age women who had experienced physical or sexual violence had sought help. Being aged 30 and above (AOR = 8.69, 95% CI: 1.43, 52.68), being working sales (AOR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.32, 3.49) or agricultural job (AOR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.56), being in the richest wealth quintile (AOR= 1.76, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.04), and experiencing severe violence (AOR=5.19; 95% CI: 3.56, 7.58) were also associated with seeking help. Women living in rural area (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.57), having a husband who had attended primary (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.79) or secondary (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.88) or higher (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.95) education, having a husband working professional jobs (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.96) or agriculture (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.63) were factors associated with lower odds of help seeking behaviour.

Conclusion: Only few women experienced physical and sexual violence seek help in Ethiopia. Socio-demographic factors and severity of the violence were associated with help seeking behaviour. Prevention of child marriages, creating job opportunity, and ensuring educational attainment were recommended interventions to enhance help seeking behaviour among reproductive age women in Ethiopia.

Keywords: Violence, Help-seeking, Women, Ethiopia