Determinants of Domestic Violence Against Women in Cambodia: How Digital Access, Media Exposure, Motorcycle Ownership, and Partners’ Alcohol Use Matter

Domestic violence against women remains a public health and socio-economic burden in Cambodia, with slow declines over the past two decades. This study examined how digital access, media exposure, motorcycle ownership, and partners’ alcohol use are associated with violence types: physical, sexual, emotional, and intimate partner violence (IPV), while controlling for socio-demographic factors. A cross-sectional study utilized secondary data, analyzing 5,780 weighted women aged 15-49 in the 2021-2022 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey. IPV—defined as sexual, physical, or emotional violence in the previous 12 months—was regressed on mobile phone ownership, internet use, media exposure, motorcycle ownership, and partners’ alcohol use using survey-adjusted multivariable logistic models. Overall, 13.2% reported experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) in the past year, with emotional violence at 12.2%, physical violence at 4.4%, and sexual violence at 1.9%. Women’s smartphone ownership was associated with lower odds of emotional violence (AOR = 0.7; 95 % CI 0.5–0.9) and IPV (AOR = 0.7, 0.5–1.0) relative to no-phone users. Conversely, low-frequency internet use predicted higher odds of emotional violence (AOR=1.7, 1.1–2.7) and IPV (AOR = 1.6, 1.1–2.5). Partner alcohol use is a strong risk factor for all violence types: sexual (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI (1.1-11.4), physical (AOR = 5.6; 95% CI (2.8-11.5), emotional (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI (2.2-4.4), and IPV (AOR=3.0; 95% CI (2.1-4.1). Inversely, women in rich households had significantly lower odds of physical (AOR = 0.4; 95% CI (0.3–0.7) and IPV (AOR = 0.6; 95% CI (0.5–0.8). Digital inclusion appears to have a dual role—smartphones may protect women from physical, sexual, emotional, and intimate partner violence (IPV), yet sporadic internet access could heighten the risk, possibly by triggering partner suspicion. Policies that expand safe, private digital access while tackling alcohol misuse and poverty may reduce domestic violence in Cambodia.