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Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Intimate Partner Violence in East African Agrarian-Based Economies

Author

Listed:
  • Leso Munala

    (Public Health Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA)

  • Elizabeth M. Allen

    (Public Health Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA)

  • Andrew J. Frederick

    (Public Health Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA)

  • Anne Ngũnjiri

    (LVCT Health, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya)

Abstract

Severe weather events can be a catalyst for intimate partner violence, particularly in agricultural settings. This research explores the association between weather and violence in parts of East Africa that rely on subsistence farming. We used IPUMS-DHS data from Uganda in 2006, Zimbabwe in 2010, and Mozambique in 2011 for intimate partner violence frequency and EM-DAT data to identify weather events by region in the year of and year prior to IPUMS-DHS data collection. This work is grounded in a conceptual framework that illustrates the mechanisms through which violence increases. We used logistic regression to estimate the odds of reporting violence in regions with severe weather events. The odds of reporting violence were 25% greater in regions with severe weather compared to regions without in Uganda (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.11–1.41), 38% greater in Zimbabwe (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13–1.70), and 91% greater in Mozambique (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.64–2.23). Our results add to the growing body of evidence showing that extreme weather can increase women’s and girls’ vulnerability to violence. Moreover, this analysis demonstrates that climate justice and intimate partner violence must be addressed together.

Suggested Citation

  • Leso Munala & Elizabeth M. Allen & Andrew J. Frederick & Anne Ngũnjiri, 2023. "Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Intimate Partner Violence in East African Agrarian-Based Economies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(23), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:23:p:7124-:d:1291530
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Boyle, Michael H. & Georgiades, Katholiki & Cullen, John & Racine, Yvonne, 2009. "Community influences on intimate partner violence in India: Women's education, attitudes towards mistreatment and standards of living," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 691-697, September.
    2. Elizabeth M. Allen & Leso Munala & Julie R. Henderson, 2021. "Kenyan Women Bearing the Cost of Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Susan D. Clayton & Panu Pihkala & Britt Wray & Elizabeth Marks, 2023. "Psychological and Emotional Responses to Climate Change among Young People Worldwide: Differences Associated with Gender, Age, and Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Sara Cools & Martin Flatø & Andreas Kotsadam, 2020. "Rainfall shocks and intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 57(3), pages 377-390, May.
    5. Adrienne Epstein & Eran Bendavid & Denis Nash & Edwin D Charlebois & Sheri D Weiser, 2020. "Drought and intimate partner violence towards women in 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa during 2011-2018: A population-based study," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, March.
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