Typologies of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Five Latin-American Countries: A Latent Class Analysis

Objectives: To estimate typologies of Intimate Partner Violence against women in some Latin-American countries. Methods: Multistage sampling survey included women aged 15 to 49 (n = 63,321). Latent class analysis was estimated, including psychological, physical, and sexual violence and control. Results: The three-class model had a better fit. 1) The high-level IPV class (23%) comprised those suffering high levels of violence. They had higher education and wealth index, lived in urban settings, and their husbands used alcohol more. 2) The middle-level IPV class (45%) suffered high levels of control but low levels of other violence. They justified IPV more than other classes and this group had a high proportion of women without education. 3) Women in the non-IPV class (32%) did not report IPV. Conclusion: Three typologies of IPV were found: high-level, middle-level, and non-IPV. Policies should create screening, early prevention strategies, and programs based on these typologies. The high-level IPV group can benefit from intense legal and mental health interventions, including alcohol reduction and women's empowerment. The middle-level IPV group could benefit from interventions to reduce violence justification and increase women's education.

Automated summary

This study examined typologies of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women in Latin American countries and identified three types: high-level, middle-level, and non-IPV. Policies should be developed to screen and prevent IPV based on these typologies, with specific interventions targeted at the high-level IPV group, such as legal and mental health interventions to reduce alcohol consumption and empower women, and interventions to reduce violence justification and increase women's education among the middle-level IPV group.