title: Factors associated with violence by a current partner in a nationally representative sample of German women.
abstract: Partner violence is a serious human rights violation and public health issue. Although its pervasiveness is well documented, more research is needed on risk and protective factors to inform interventions. This study is based on a secondary analysis of the first national survey on violence against women in Germany. Women who reported partner violence by their current partner were compared to women who never reported partner violence. The prevalence of physical or sexual violence, or both, by current partners was 17 per cent. Women who experienced violence during their childhood had higher odds of experiencing partner violence. Partner violence was associated with women's drug use in the last 5 years, physical disability or debilitating illness, having more than three children, experiencing violence by a non-partner and feeling socially excluded. The odds of violence also increased if both partners were unemployed or lacked vocational training or if only the woman had vocational skills. Relationships shorter than 5 years or where the man or both partners drank heavily were likewise associated with higher odds of violence. Partner violence interventions should focus on reducing children's exposure to violence and preparing women and men for the job market as well as including interventions that tackle social isolation and substance use.
authors.affiliation: Gender Violence and Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Room 327, 15–17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH. Heidi.Stoeckl@lshtm.ac.uk
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stöckl
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heise
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult