Structural Determinants of Intimate Partner Violence in Afghanistan: Unequal Risks for Women in Polygamous and Monogamous Unions

Objectives This study examined intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences among co-wives in polygynous marriages (first versus second or later-order) and monogamous unions, focusing on how community, household, and individual factors affect these relationships. Methods Data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey (AFDHS) were used, with a final sample of 21,324 currently married and in-union women aged 15–49. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis and a non-linear decomposition approach (Fairlie method) were used to investigate this association. Results Over half of the women (50.8%) reported experiencing at least one form of IPV—physical (47.5%), emotional (32.1%), or sexual (8.9%). Logistic regression showed that first-ranked wives in polygynous unions faced significantly higher odds of experiencing physical (aOR = 2.98), emotional (aOR = 2.55), sexual (aOR = 1.94), and any IPV (aOR = 2.71) (all p < 0.001). Fairlie decomposition revealed a 9.7% to 45% greater IPV risk for first-ranked wives than second or later-order wives in polygynous unions, and 10.8% to 72% compared to only wives in monogamous unions, largely driven by community-level factors. Conclusion The first wife in a polygynous union is more likely to experience IPV, and this study identifies important structural factors contributing to IPV. By focusing on evidence-based interventions and cross-sector collaboration, stakeholders in Afghanistan and other conflict-affected areas can work to decrease IPV and promote gender equality.