This paper aims at describing the prevalence and correlates of domestic violence, and
evaluating their associations with key health outcomes among Zambian young females
aged 15–24 years.Data from the 2007 Zambia Demographic Health Survey was
utilized. The survey was carried out by Central Statistical Office with the technical
assistance from Macro International through MEASURE DHS programme. The 2007
ZDHS is based on a nationally representative sample of 7146 ever married women of
15-49 age group covering 320 Standard Enumeration Areas (clusters). In this paper,
the data analysis was only restricted to young women aged 15-24.The results show that
among the various forms of violence against women, 22% of the women faced sexual
violence, followed by emotional violence (21%) and physical violence (16%). The
results further revealed that age, religion, educational level, working status, condom
use during last sex and had any STDs in the last 12 months, had genital sores/ulcers in
the last 12 months were the most prominent factors significantly explaining variation
in the prevalence of physical, emotional and sexual violence. Domestic violence is a
complex societal scourge which is unlikely to be attributed to one single determinant.