Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women defined as “the range of
sexually, psychologically and physically coercive acts used against adult and
adolescent women by her current or former male intimate partners” (WHO,
1997) has been recognized not only as an important human right issue but also
as a public health challenge, due to its great consequences on mental and
physical health (Uthman et al., 2009). At the worldwide scale, it is estimated
that the physical consequences of rape and sexual violence are responsible for
about 5% of diseases among women (WHO, 2006 cited by Kaboré et al.,
2008). These practices rest upon several grounds. One of them is partners’
sexual intercourse and related perceptions. This research analyzes female attitudes
towards intimate partner violence (IPV) and coerced sex in the context
of a stable relationship. Our objective is to examine how women in a stable
union negotiate their sexual life with their regular partner. More precisely, we
try to understand what do verbal and physical interactions within the couple
as declared by women tell us about their related autonomy regarding sexual
intercourse with their regular partner. Acknowledging the legitimacy of violence
does not inevitably involve being victim of abuses. However it means
being more at risk of being abused and less able to resist it (Rani et al., 2004).
This research is realized in Burkina Faso, considered as one of the less
developed countries (183rd rank among 186 countries in 2012) (HDRO,
2012). Most of the population lives in rural areas (83%), despite the development
of urbanization these last decades (INSD, 2004). Agriculture includes a
large part of the active population (Thiombiano, 2009). Marriage is wide-
spread. At 35, almost all the women are married (INSD, 2004). The total fertility
rate reaches an average of 6 children per woman (CIA, 2013). According
to the 2006 national population census, the largest part of the population
is Muslim (60.5%), the main other group being Catholic (19%) (INSD, 2009).