Intimate partner violence: prevalence and perceptions of married men in Ibadan, Nigeria

In sub-Saharan Africa rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) are high. Thus, identifying reasons for abuse is crucial in ensuring women's health. Hence, mens perception of IPV was assessed, and prevalence of abuse determined. Survey of 820 married men from six urban communities in Ibadan was done using interviewer administered questionnaire. Four focus group discussions were conducted. Lifetime prevalence of perpetration of physical abuse was 25.1%, while psychological violence was 44.4%. Two hundred and forty (29.3%) had ever perpetrated sexual violence and 23.2% economic violence. At least one of these forms of violence had been perpetrated by 44.1% of the respondents. "Being rude" (66.4%) and "insufficient care of the children" (54.3%) were common justifications for IPV. Motive of the abuse were "to make partner responsible" (60.3%) and "to obtain respect" (59.9%). Predictors of perpetrating violence were being in polygamous unions (OR 1.83, 95% CI: 1.11-3.03), consuming alcohol (AOR 1.67; 95% CI: 1.10-2.53), and being Moslem (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.21-2.910). Men with inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes had greater likelihood of perpetrating IPV (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.37-3.26 and AOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.33-3.27). IPV was also associated with young age. Premarital counseling on how to resolve conflict without resulting to violence and early education of boys on violence to women is recommended.     

Pornography Use and Intimate Partner Violence Among a Sample of U.S. Army Soldiers in 2018: A Cross-Sectional Study

The objective of the present study was to determine whether there is an association between pornography use and reported intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among a sample of soldiers in the US Army. The study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected from soldiers at a military installation in 2018 (n?=?9,052). IPV was defined as any self-reported perpetration of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse of an intimate partner. Multivariable negative binomial regressions were used to assess the association between pornography use and any lifetime perpetration of IPV, controlling for gender, age group, race/ethnicity, relationship status, educational status, military rank, hazardous drinking, depression, stimulant use, depressant use, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Of the population analyzed, 41% of soldiers reported any pornography use per week, and 9.6% reported perpetrating any form of IPV. Soldiers who reported pornography use had between a 1.72- and 3.56-fold greater likelihood of reporting any lifetime perpetration of IPV, controlling for covariates. Given the prevalence and detrimental effects of IPV, longitudinal studies should be designed to further understand predictors of IPV in military populations.

     

Intimate partner violence among men and women--South Carolina, 1998

Few studies provide population-based estimates of intimate partner violence (IPV) for men and women, especially at the state level. IPV may result in adverse health effects for victims and perpetrators (1-3). To estimate the lifetime incidence of IPV by type of violence (e.g., physical, sexual, and perceived emotional abuse) and to explore demographic correlates of reporting IPV among men and women, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the University of South Carolina conducted a population-based random-digit-dialed telephone survey of adults in the state. This report summarizes the results of the survey, which indicated that approximately 25% of women and 13% of men have experienced some type of IPV during their lifetime. Although women were significantly more likely to report physical and sexual IPV, men were as likely as women to report emotional abuse without concurrent physical or sexual IPV.     

Physical violence, intimate partner violence, and emotional abuse among adult American Indian men and women in Montana

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the experience of American Indian communities relative to physical violence (PV), intimate partner violence (IPV), and emotional abuse. METHODS: A random sample of adult American Indians living on or near the seven Montana reservations were interviewed through an adapted Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System telephone survey in 2001 (N = 1,006). Victimization from physical violence was defined as PV or sexual assault committed by any person. Respondents who reported experiencing PV and who reported that the perpetrator was a current or former spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, or date were categorized as experiencing IPV. Emotional abuse was defined as fear for one's safety or being controlled by another individual. RESULTS: Nine, one, and twelve percent of men reported experiencing PV, IPV, and emotional abuse in the past year, respectively. Five percent of women reported PV in the past year, 3% reported IPV, and 18% reported emotional abuse. Men who reported PV in the past year were more likely to be younger and report more days of physical and mental health problems in the past month. Women reporting PV in the past year were more likely to be younger and have more days with mental health problems in the past month. Few men (7%) or women (12%) reported ever being assessed for PV or safety. CONCLUSIONS: Recent PV, IPV, and emotional abuse are prevalent for both American Indian men and women. Strategies to increase screening for PV and effective interventions for violence are needed.     

Intimate Partner Violence Among Men Having Sex with Men,Women, or Both: Early-Life Sexual and Physical Abuse as Antecedents

Little is known about the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) or about childhood adversity as a predictor of IPV among MSM. Studies have documented high rates of childhood sexual abuse among MSM. To evaluate associations of early-life sexual and physical abuse with IPV among African American heterosexual men or MSM, prevalence of early-life (≤21 years) sexual and physical abuse was measured among 703 nonmonogamous African American men. Men were classified as (1) MSM who disclosed male sex partners; (2) MSM who initially denied male sex partners but subsequently reported oral-genital and anal-genital behaviors with men; (3) non-MSM. MSM who initially disclosed male sex partners reported significantly (P < 0.0001) higher rates of early physical abuse (36%) and lifetime abuse (49%) compared with non-MSM (15 and 22%), respectively. These MSM reported significantly higher rates of sexual abuse by age 11, age 21, and over a lifetime compared with non-MSM (P < 0.0001). Being an MSM who initially disclosed male sex partners (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.6) and early-life sexual abuse (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.8, 4.3) was associated with IPV victimization in current relationships. Similarly, being an MSM with early-life physical and sexual abuse was associated (0.0004 ≤ P ≤ 0.07) with IPV perpetration. Early-life physical and sexual abuse was higher among MSM who disclosed male sex partners compared with heterosexual men; however, all MSM who experienced early-life abuse were more likely to be IPV victims or perpetrators.     

Help-seeking for intimate partner violence and forced sex in South Carolina

PURPOSE: In this population-based, random-digit-dial, cross-sectional survey, we assessed the lifetime victimization of intimate partner violence (IPV) and forced or coerced sex among 556 women and men in South Carolina, and the help-seeking behaviors of victims. RESULTS: Among women, 25.3% experienced IPV (sexual, physical, or emotional violence) compared with 13.2% of men. Although women were significantly more likely to report physical or sexual IPV (17.8%) than were men (4.9%), men (8.3%) were as likely as women (7.4%) to report perceived emotional abuse without physical or sexual IPV. One half of men and women with annual incomes <$15, 000 reported IPV. Among women experiencing physical or sexual IPV, 53% sought community-based or professional services for IPV; women with higher education levels and those experiencing more severe violence were most likely to seek services. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that IPV is common and that most victims do not receive services to address this violence.     

Sexual Agreements and Intimate Partner Violence Among Male Couples in the U.S.: An Analysis of Dyadic Data

Prior research with male couples has focused on how sexual agreements can influence relationship dynamics, sexual risk taking, and health promoting behaviors. Little is known about the association between sexual agreements and the experience or perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) in this population. Our study sought to evaluate these associations using dyadic data from a sample of 386 male couples residing in the U.S. Both partners independently reported on their relationship characteristics, sexual agreements, and specific acts reflecting physical, emotional, controlling, and monitoring IPV in separate surveys. Participants were more likely to have experienced IPV in the past year if they were in a relationship for?≥?3 years versus?<?3 years (aOR?=?1.62, 95% CI?=?1.03–2.53). Among 278 couples who had formulated sexual agreements, men who concurred with their partners on being in an “open” relationship were less likely to have experienced IPV versus those in a “closed” relationship (aOR?=?0.47, 95% CI?=?0.25–0.89). However, participants were more likely to have experienced IPV if their partners believed they had previously broken their sexual agreement (aOR?=?2.79, 95% CI?=?1.03–7.52). The verbal explicitness and duration of sexual agreements were not associated with either experiencing or perpetrating IPV in the past year. However, increasing levels of depressive symptomatology were associated with a greater likelihood of both experiencing and perpetrating IPV. Our findings highlight the need to prioritize dyadic interventions for male couples that focus on skills building around enhancing mutual communication and negotiating sexual agreements to reduce IPV.

     

Sexual Risk Factors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Rwanda: A Couples-Based Analysis

The goal of this study was to measure the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and to examine the independent association of sexual risk factors of women and their husbands/partners with IPV. We used data from 2,169 couples from the 2005 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey. Face-to-face interviews were conducted, and multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 560 (29.2%), 415 (22.2%), and 233 (12.4%) women reported any physical, psychological, or sexual IPV, respectively. History of genital ulcer in women was significantly associated with psychological IPV (AOR: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.67–4.59), whereas history of genital ulcer reported by husbands/partners was significantly associated with sexual IPV (AOR 2.80, 95% CI: 1.08–7.29). The number of lifetime sexual partners of husbands was positively associated with increasing odds of their wives being exposed to psychological IPV (p = 0.025) and physical IPV (p = .017). In a representative sample of couples, husbands/partners’ sexual risk factors were associated with IPV reported by their wives. Genital ulcer appeared to be a risk marker for the presence of IPV victimization/perpetration.     

Intersections Between Childhood Abuse and Adult Intimate Partner Violence Among Ecuadorian Women

Objectives Strong linkages exist between childhood abuse and adult intimate partner violence (IPV) among women in developed countries. Few studies examine this pattern in developing nations. This study explores the effect of childhood physical and/or psychological abuse on the likelihood of IPV among a national sample of Ecuadorian women of reproductive age. Methods Secondary data analysis was conducted on a subsample of 9,077 Ecuadorian women, utilizing the 2004 Encuesta Demografía y de Salud Materna e Infantil survey. Cross-tabulations and multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to assess whether women who report childhood abuse had a higher likelihood of reporting sexual, physical or psychological IPV during their lifetimes or within the past year. Results Levels of abuse were high. More than 30% of women reported childhood psychological or physical abuse, and 21% experienced both types of abuse. Forty percent of women reported sexual, physical or psychological IPV during their lifetimes, while 15% reported any form of IPV in the past year. The co-occurrence of childhood psychological and physical abuse was highly predictive of all forms of IPV, with less consistent associations for women who reported only physical or only psychological childhood abuse. Conclusions This study suggests that childhood abuse is an important risk factor for IPV victimization among Ecuadorian women. While this analysis supports findings from developed countries, more cross-cultural research about patterns of violence throughout the life course is needed to develop relevant prevention programs.     

Violence in childhood,attitudes about partner violence,and partner violence perpetration among men in Vietnam

PurposeWe assess the association of men’s exposure to violence in childhood—witnessing physical violence against one’s mother and being hit or beaten by a parent or adult relative—with their attitudes about intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. We explore whether men’s perpetration of IPV mediates this relationship and whether men’s attitudes about IPV mediate any relationship of exposure to violence in childhood with perpetration of IPV.MethodsFive hundred twenty-two married men 18–51 years in Vietnam were interviewed. Multivariate regressions for ordinal and binary responses were estimated to assess these relationships.ResultsCompared with men experiencing neither form of violence in childhood, men experiencing either or both had higher adjusted odds of reporting more reasons to hit a wife (aOR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03–2.00 and aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.05–2.64, respectively). Men’s lifetime perpetration of IPV accounted fully for these associations. Compared with men experiencing neither form of violence in childhood, men experiencing either or both had higher adjusted odds of ever perpetrating IPV (aOR, 3.28; 95% CI, 2.15–4.99 and aOR, 4.56; 95% CI, 2.90–7.17, respectively). Attitudes about IPV modestly attenuated these associations.ConclusionsAddressing violence in childhood is needed to change men’s risk of perpetrating IPV and greater subsequent justification of it.     

Prevalence of intimate partner violence and health implications for women using emergency departments and primary care clinics.

OBJECTIVES: To determine prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women accessing health care, factors that influence rates of abuse, barriers to disclosure, and associated health problems and perceptions of safety. METHODS: A convenience sample of women seeking health care completed 1268 anonymous surveys (75 in Spanish) while at 1 of 24 urban, suburban, or rural emergency departments or primary care clinics. RESULTS: Of women in this study, 50-57% had experienced physical and/or emotional abuse and 26% reported sexual abuse in their lifetime. In the past year, 28% reported emotional abuse, 12% physical abuse, 6% severe physical abuse, and 4% sexual abuse. Logistic regression models found that younger, less-educated, less-affluent women presenting to urban emergency departments reported the highest rates of physical abuse. Although 83% welcomed abuse screening, only 25% ever had been asked and 86% would disclose abuse if asked directly, respectfully, and confidentially. Abused women reported significantly lower health status ratings than nonabused women (p < 0.001). Emotional abuse was as strongly associated with health problems as physical abuse. The majority (70-93%) of women with headaches, stomach problems, chronic pain, vaginal bleeding, substance abuse, depression, and suicidal thoughts had experienced lifetime physical/emotional abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Women experience many forms of abuse and present to a wide range of health care settings. The striking prevalence of IPV and associated emotional/physical health problems challenges providers to routinely assess for abuse in ways that minimize barriers to disclosure and enhance the development of an effective plan of care based on a patient's abuse experience.     

Physical and mental health effects of intimate partner violence for men and women

BACKGROUND: Few population-based studies have assessed the physical and mental health consequences of both psychological and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) among women or men victims. This study estimated IPV prevalence by type (physical, sexual, and psychological) and associated physical and mental health consequences among women and men. METHODS: The study analyzed data from the National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS) of women and men aged 18 to 65. This random-digit-dial telephone survey included questions about violent victimization and health status indicators. RESULTS: A total of 28.9% of 6790 women and 22.9% of 7122 men had experienced physical, sexual, or psychological IPV during their lifetime. Women were significantly more likely than men to experience physical or sexual IPV (relative risk [RR]=2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.1, 2.4) and abuse of power and control (RR=1.1, 95% CI=1.0, 1.2), but less likely than men to report verbal abuse alone (RR=0.8, 95% CI=0.7, 0.9). For both men and women, physical IPV victimization was associated with increased risk of current poor health; depressive symptoms; substance use; and developing a chronic disease, chronic mental illness, and injury. In general, abuse of power and control was more strongly associated with these health outcomes than was verbal abuse. When physical and psychological IPV scores were both included in logistic regression models, higher psychological IPV scores were more strongly associated with these health outcomes than were physical IPV scores. CONCLUSIONS: Both physical and psychological IPV are associated with significant physical and mental health consequences for both male and female victims.     

Overlapping intimate partner violence and sex trading among high-risk women: Implications for practice

Despite research indicating higher than average rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) across groups of vulnerable women, less is known about the prevalence and types of IPV experienced by women who trade sex for money, drugs, shelter or food, a high risk group for poor health and psychosocial outcomes. Using a cross-sectional design and multivariate logistic regression analyses, this study examined the relationship between IPV and sex trading in a convenience sample of 346 HIV-negative, drug-involved women in relationships, recruited during 2005–2010 in New York City. About 41% and 36% of participants reported lifetime and recent IPV, respectively, by their main partner, with significant differences by recent engagement in sex trading (p < 0.01). Results of multivariate analyses indicated that sex trading was associated with recent severe physical or sexual IPV (OR = 3.07, p < 0.01) and that depression, having ever been married, child sexual abuse, and income were associated with IPV (p < 0.05). Women who reported childhood sexual abuse and recent sex trading had a 7.37 higher odds (p < 0.01) for reporting severe physical or sexual IPV compared to those who reported neither. Findings highlight the need to expand screening and interventions among women who trade sex.     

Identifying socio-demographic and socioeconomic determinants of health inequalities in a diverse London community: the South East London Community Health (SELCoH) study

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a global public health and human rights concern. Despite a growing body of research into risk factors for IPV, methodological differences limit the extent to which comparisons can be made between studies. We used data from ten countries included in the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence to identify factors that are consistently associated with abuse across sites, in order to inform the design of IPV prevention programs.

Methods

Standardised population-based household surveys were done between 2000 and 2003. One woman aged 15-49 years was randomly selected from each sampled household. Those who had ever had a male partner were asked about their experiences of physically and sexually violent acts. We performed multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of physical and/or sexual partner violence within the past 12 months.

Results

Despite wide variations in the prevalence of IPV, many factors affected IPV risk similarly across sites. Secondary education, high SES, and formal marriage offered protection, while alcohol abuse, cohabitation, young age, attitudes supportive of wife beating, having outside sexual partners, experiencing childhood abuse, growing up with domestic violence, and experiencing or perpetrating other forms of violence in adulthood, increased the risk of IPV. The strength of the association was greatest when both the woman and her partner had the risk factor.

Conclusions

IPV prevention programs should increase focus on transforming gender norms and attitudes, addressing childhood abuse, and reducing harmful drinking. Development initiatives to improve access to education for girls and boys may also have an important role in violence prevention.     

Disability status and violence against women in the home in North Kivu,Democratic Republic of Congo

ABSTRACT

Few studies have investigated how women’s disability status may influence violence against women within conflict settings. A mixed-methods analysis of formative qualitative research and cross-sectional baseline pilot data from a violence prevention program in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was used to examine violence against disabled adult women within the home. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine the relationship between past-month physical/sexual intimate partner violence, disability status, and older age (N?=?98 women). Deductive thematic analysis of focus groups and individual interviews (N?=?57 men, 59 women) was used to identify community norms and perceptions of violence against women with disabilities in the home. Women who reported mild disability reported higher experiences of past-month physical and/or sexual IPV (85.0%) compared to those who reported severe or no disability (76.5% vs. 70.8%, respectively). Older women with mild disability were more likely to report physical IPV compared to their younger counterparts as well (OR?=?1.23, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.49, p?<?0.039). Qualitative findings suggested family members may be deterred from perpetrating abuse against older women. These findings highlight a complex relationship between women’s disability status and violence perpetration, underscoring the importance of having inclusive, contextual violence against women prevention and response programming in conflict settings.     

Sexual violence among a cohort of injection drug users

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, sexual violence in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, among injection drug using men and women. The Vancouver Injection Drug User Study is a prospective cohort of injection drug users (IDU) begun in 1996. The analysis included all individuals who completed the baseline questionnaire who responded to a question about sexual assault. Multivariate modeling was used to determine and to what extent a history of sexual violence at different ages is predictive of HIV risk and other health risk behaviors. HIV prevalence was calculated as the total current number of HIV-positive individuals in the cohort. Of the 1437 eligible individuals, 36% reported a lifetime history of sexual violence; 68% of women, and 19% of men (p<0.001). After adjusting for fixed sociodemographics, these individuals were more likely to have ever been in the sex trade, to knowingly share needles/rigs with HIV-positive people, to have attempted suicide, to have ever accidentally overdosed, to binge on alcohol, and to have been diagnosed with a mental disorder/disability. The prevalence of child sexual abuse in this cohort is 21%; 33% for women, and 13% for men. The data show a dose-response relationship between age at first sexual violence and most risk behaviors examined. These relationships are further mediated by gender. The prevalence of HIV among individuals who ever experienced sexual violence was 25%, compared to 19% among those who never experienced sexual violence (p=0.006). Sexual violence, and especially child sexual abuse, is highly prevalent among this cohort, particularly among women. Child sexual abuse has worse consequences for both genders than sexual violence later in life. Nevertheless, women and men are affected differently by sexual violence at different ages, and this has significant implications for health promotion programs, and specifically HIV prevention.     

Cumulative abuse experiences, physical health and health behaviors

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to investigate the complex relationship between a range of lifetime abuse experiences with current physical health and health behaviors. METHODS: Between October 1998 and May 1999, interviews were conducted with 557 ethnically diverse women seen at two urban primary care centers. Seven forms of abuse were measured: childhood physical and sexual abuse, past physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV), and recent emotional, physical, and sexual IPV. Severity was measured for six of these forms. Multiple non-specific physical symptoms were measured with a modified PRIME-MD, and four health behaviors were ascertained. RESULTS: Approximately 10% of women never experiencing abuse reported multiple non-specific physical symptoms, compared with 25.8% to 78.4% of women reporting a range of abuse experiences. Increases in recent IPV, past IPV, child abuse, and economic hardship were associated with increases in reported symptoms. Women who experienced IPV were more likely to report smoking cigarettes, binge drinking, and having poor nutritional habits. CONCLUSIONS: Recent IPV is associated with physical symptoms and risky health behaviors beyond the effects of child abuse, past IPV, and economic disadvantage. Understanding a person's IPV experiences may inform interventions for health behaviors, such as smoking cessation programs.     

Intimate Partner Violence and Help-Seeking Among Ethiopian Women

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread phenomenon in Ethiopia, the relationship between help-seeking sources and IPV is not well understood. Better understanding of this relationship could play a role in preventing IPV. We used data collected in the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey and limited our study to women who have ever been married, aged 15 to 49 years (n?=?4469). Overall, the proportions of women who have ever experienced emotional abuse, physical, or sexual violence were 24%, 23.1%, and 10.1%. Women who sought informal help (family) were 2.42 times more likely (OR?=?2.42; CI 1.29–4.55) to have ever experienced emotional abuse than women who did not seek family help. Neither formal nor informal help-seeking significantly associated with physical or sexual violence. The results may indicate difficulties women face in seeking help and cultural and social norms that tolerate IPV as an acceptable part of family life in Ethiopia.

     

Intimate Partner Violence and Socioeconomic Deprivation in England: Findings From a National Cross-Sectional Survey

Objectives. We examined the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with social deprivation in England.Methods. We used multivariable logistic regression to investigate IPV correlates among 21 226 men and women aged 16 to 59 years in the 2008 nationally representative cross-sectional British Crime Survey.Results. Lifetime IPV was reported by 23.8% of women and 11.5% of men. Physical IPV was reported by 16.8% and 7.0%, respectively; emotional-only IPV was reported by 5.8% and 4.2%, respectively. After adjustment for demographic confounders, lifetime physical IPV experienced by women was associated with social housing tenure (odds ratio [OR] = 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.0, 2.7), low household income (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.8, 2.7), poor educational attainment (OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.0, 1.5), low social class (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 0.3, 1.7), and living in a multiply deprived area (OR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1, 1.7). Physical IPV experienced by men and emotional IPV experienced by either gender were generally not associated with deprivation factors.Conclusions. Physical and emotional IPV are very common among adults in England. Emotional IPV prevention policies may be appropriate across the social spectrum; those for physical IPV should be particularly accessible to disadvantaged women.The World Health Organization highlights intimate partner violence (IPV) as a pressing public health and human rights issue.1 The World Health Organization defines IPV as physical or sexual violence, emotional abuse, or controlling behavior by a current or former intimate partner.2 In nearly 50 populationwide surveys globally some 10% to 69% of women report having ever experienced physical abuse by an intimate partner.2 In the United Kingdom, a 2009 review found that the prevalence of lifetime IPV against women was 13% to 31% in community studies, and 13% to 41% in clinical populations.3 The health impact of IPV extends beyond mortality and direct injury4 to poor overall self-rated health, mental health problems, and gynecological and sexual health problems.5,6 The annual UK domestic violence cost was estimated at £ 16 billion in 2008.7Often, IPV is seen in terms of physical or sexual violence perpetrated by men against women.1 As a consequence, most UK and international IPV prevention policies are targeted at women.1,8 However, some recent national surveys found a near-equal prevalence of physical IPV reported by men and women, mainly in North America and New Zealand, and there are calls for more services for male victims.9,10 Many have argued that this finding reflects measurement artifact, ignoring important differences in the nature and context of abuse.11 Further detailed examination of IPV as reported by both genders in national studies is needed to inform this debate.Policies for prevention of IPV also tend to emphasize that all women are at risk, regardless of their socioeconomic background.1,12 This is perhaps in an effort to decrease stigma associated with IPV. However, many studies show that both male perpetrators and female victims of physical IPV are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds.13–15 The association with social deprivation depends on the broader social context, with more empowered women being at higher risk in some settings.16 There is little evidence on the socioeconomic profile of male victims. Finally, although central to the World Health Organization’s definition of IPV, emotional abuse is not well-described in the current literature among either gender. This is an important knowledge gap, as emotional abuse has a significant public health impact that can be as great as that of physical abuse.17,18 Understanding how social deprivation is associated with different types of abuse in both sexes will inform the need for targeted versus universal interventions.The British Crime Survey (BCS), a large national victimization survey in England and Wales, provides a detailed assessment of IPV. Home Office BCS reports examined associations between social deprivation and IPV victimization during the past year,19–21 but did not examine associations with lifetime IPV or IPV subtypes. To our knowledge there are no IPV studies using BCS data in the peer-reviewed scientific or public health literature, and only 1 UK national study using data other than the BCS, focusing on physical IPV.3,22 We used BCS data to describe the prevalence of both recent and lifetime IPV among men and women in England, and to explore whether different types of lifetime IPV were associated with social deprivation among either gender.To facilitate interpretation of our empirical findings we generated hypotheses in advance, following our review of theoretical and empirical literature. We expected to find that (1) women would report a higher prevalence of all types of IPV than men, particularly severe, prolonged, and controlling types of abuse11,23; (2) social deprivation would be associated with being a victim of lifetime IPV in both men and women13,15; and (3) social deprivation would be more strongly associated with being a victim of physical than of emotional lifetime IPV.17,24