Impact of displacement on experiences of intimate partner violence among women living in northern Uganda

Gender-based violence against internally displaced persons and refugees has garnered increased attention over the last ten years from public health researchers, policy makers, and humanitarian aid agencies. A growing body of evidence suggests that refugee or displaced women are more likely to experience intimate partner violence than any other type of gender-based violence. However, a dearth of research exists on the impact of forced displacement on women's risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. Due to an array of factors associated with forced displacement, such as increased alcohol use and a breakdown in social support networks, this study hypothesized that women are at increased risk of experiencing intimate partner violence as a result of forced displacement. Using a sample of 1,749 ever-married women from the 2006 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey, this study utilized propensity score matching to attempt and determine a causal relationship between displacement and intimate partner violence. Given that certain assumptions hold, results from a regression-adjusted matched estimate contradicted the original hypotheses and indicate that women who are displaced in northern Uganda are less likely to experience intimate partner violence than if they had not been displaced. Potential explanations for these findings will be discussed, along with policy and practice implications.