Maternal intimate partner violence victimization and under-five children mortality in Western Ethiopia: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the association between maternal intimate partner violence and under-five mortality.

METHODS: Matched case-control study was conducted from May to June 2011. A sample of 286 cases and 572 controls were randomly selected from East Wollega Zone, West Ethiopia.

RESULTS: Among cases, 72.7% ever experienced controlling behaviors when compared to 62.4% for controls. All forms of maternal intimate partner violence were experienced by 61.9% of cases and 50.9% of controls. Controlling behavior in marriage and experiences of all forms of intimate partner violence during lifetime were more than four [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97-18.89), and two (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.66-3.92) times as likely to be associated with under-five mortality.

CONCLUSION: Maternal intimate partner violence victimization is strongly associated with under-five mortality. Involving men in maternal and child health programs could be one strategy to address the issue of intimate partner violence against women.