A Profile of Violence in Rural Niger: Characteristics of Men Who Perpetrate IPV in Rural Niger

Holly Shakya, University of California, San Diego
Ruvani Fonseka, University of California, San Diego
Paul J. Fleming, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sabrina Boyce, University of California, San Diego
Jay Silverman, University of California, San Diego
Sneha Challa , University of California, San Diego

In this study we use data collected from 966 men in rural Niger and their adolescent wives in order to understand the characteristics of men who have perpetrated intimate partner violence. We find that there are clusters of characteristics that are associated with a higher likelihood of perpetrating violence, including experiencing parental violence, negative affect, and believing the community supports IPV. Experiencing parental violence itself is strongly associated with gender inequitable norms and attitudes, norms and attitudes supporting IPV, and higher levels of negative affect. Men who comprise clusters with low rates of violence are also those whose wives engage in agricultural work. These characteristics also cluster in geographically proximal villages. Our results suggest that violence is part of a complex nexus of related characteristics that may be normatively driven. Intervention efforts that don’t address this social and psychological complexity may be less effective.

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 Presented in Session 4. Marriage, Family, Households, & Unions