Determinants of intimate partner violence among female youth in Tanzania: Evidence from Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been recognized as a public health problem and is associated with poor health and social outcomes. However, there is limited knowledge about IPV among women aged 15 to 24 years in Tanzania. This age group is critical as it is the period when lifelong patterns of violence and norms about acceptable IPV are formed. The ecological framework portrays intimate partner violence as a multifaceted phenomenon, demonstrating the interplay of factors at different levels. This study aimed to determine individual and community determinants of IPV among female youth in Tanzania. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out using secondary data from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2015/16. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 14. Data analysis considered the complex survey design. A multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear model was used to determine individual and community-level factors associated with IPV among female youth. Results Almost one in two (47.8%) female youth in Tanzania reported to have ever experienced partner violence. Having adjusted for other relevant covariates, at the individual level, having at least one living child, witnessing interparental violence, having unfavorable attitudes towards IPV, and having a partner who drinks alcohol increased the odds of IPV. At the community level, geographical zones and community norms that justified IPV had a positive influence on IPV. Conclusion In addition to individual characteristics of woman, community-level factors also determine the experience of partner violence among female youth in Tanzania. Interventions to prevent violence should take into consideration both individual characteristics and the context of the community, putting a focus on transforming gender norms and attitudes, reducing harmful alcohol use and addressing prior histories of witnessing abuse.