The report finds that 30 percent of ever-partnered women experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime; and 6 percent in the 12 months prior to data collection. Seven percent of all respondents reported having been forced into sexual intercourse by a non-partner in their lifetime (1% in the last 12 months). Significant risk factors associated with IPV identified using Chi-square tests included: lower education (female and partner), cohabitation without marriage, rural residency, younger age, non-consensual marriage, having been pregnant, having experienced or witnessed violence in childhood, substance abuse by the partner and the partner being unemployed and having been in prior relationships.

One in three women who experienced IPV remained quiet about their experience and most survivors did not seek or receive assistance for their situation. Women most often sought help from their personal contacts (mostly their mothers) rather than police, social services or other entities adequately resourced to address IPV. Several factors precluded women from accessing help; these included fear, shame, and the “normalcy” associated with violence. Based on these findings, recommendations for policy and further research are presented.