Consanguineous marriage: Protective or risk factor for intimate partner violence?

Abstract

Consanguinity is still common in the Middle East. This chapter uses the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from Egypt (2005; N =5,240) and Jordan (2007; N=3,444) to examine the relationship between consanguinity and intimate partner violence (IPV). Binary logistic regression models used to assess the association revealed that IPV, namely physical, emotional, and sexual violence during the past year to the survey, was fairly similar in both countries. Physical violence was 18 % in Egypt and 12 % in Jordan; emotional violence was 10 % in both countries, while sexual violence was lower: 6 % in Jordan and 4 % in Egypt. Jordan has a higher rate of consanguinity (39 %) compared to Egypt (33 %). Findings show significant association between consanguinity and experience of emotional, but not physical, or sexual IPV in the past year in both countries. Duration of marriage, education, and wealth were also found to be important determinants.