Background
Uganda’s persistent low prevalence of modern contraceptive use (MCU) calls for further
assessment of associated determinants. This paper examined the relationship between
intimate partner violence (IPV), women’s empowerment and modern contraceptive use
among women in union in Uganda.
Methods
We used the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey data, selecting a weighted
sample of 1,307 women in union who were selected for the domestic violence module.
Cross tabulations (chi-square tests) and multivariate complementary log-log (clog-log)
regressions were used to examine the relationship between IPV, empowerment and MCU
controlling for partner’s characteristics and behaviors and women’s background
characteristics.
Results
A quarter (25%) of the women in union used modern contraceptive methods. IPV did not predict
MCU in Uganda. Significant predictors of MCU were a woman’s ability to ask the partner to use
a condom, a form of empowerment in a sexual relationship, place of residence and wealth status.
Women who were able to ask the partner to use a condom, urban residents, and women from
wealthy households had increased odds of MCU.
Conclusion
Women’s experience of IPV and empowerment were not associated with MCU. Instead, ability
to ask a partner to use a condom, urban residence and better wealth status, were significantly
associated with MCU. Interventions to scale up MCU should target rural and poor women,
emphasizing the need for more equitable gender relations and couple communication in union.