Intimate partner violence and chronic undernutrition among married Bangladeshi women of reproductive age: are the poor uniquely disadvantaged?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To investigate (i) associations of intimate partner violence (IPV) and chronic undernutrition among women of reproductive age and (ii) whether women who experience both poverty and IPV are unique in their nutritional disadvantages. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study used the data from the 2007 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey, a cross-sectional, nationally representative study. Analyses were based on the responses of 3861 currently married, non-pregnant women. Exposure was determined from maternal reports of physical and sexual IPV. Chronic undernutrition among women was the main outcome variable of interest. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression methods were employed in the analysis. RESULTS: Over 53% of married Bangladeshi women experienced physical and/or sexual violence from their husbands. Experience of physical IPV (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.46) and both physical and sexual IPV (AOR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.04-1.58) was associated with an increased risk of chronic undernutrition among women. A magnitude of three or more types of physical IPV appeared to have more profound consequences on women's undernutrition. Findings also revealed that women who are poor and have experienced IPV are unique in their nutritional disadvantages. CONCLUSIONS: Experience of IPV is an important risk marker for the increased risk of chronic undernutrition among women of reproductive age in Bangladesh. Women experiencing IPV need help irrespective of the socioeconomic status they belong to. Targeted intervention at IPV among the poor may help improve nutritional status among women of reproductive age. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2013) 67, 301-307; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.202; published online 12 December 2012