Perilous Pathways: Unveiling the Interplay of Poverty, Catastrophic Health Expenditure, and Intimate Partner Violence in Ethiopia

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pervasive global issue with profound social, economic, and public health implications. Based on primary data collected with household heads and women aged 18 to 59 years in Ethiopia, this study aims to understand the association between poverty, catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), and IPV. IPV prevalence was estimated by probing if women experienced specific behaviors of economic, psychological, physical, and sexual violence. To measure poverty, this study employs five distinct methods. Firstly, it utilizes household expenditure data to calculate the national poverty line and categorize households accordingly. The remaining four methods assess household poverty through the subjective evaluation of the household financial situation by the household head. Statistical significance was established using bivariate and multivariate models. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was also carried out, with latent constructs of IPV and food insecurity. Households with survivors also consistently experienced a higher incidence of food unavailability: during any day (18% vs. 9%), any night (17% vs. 8%), and both day and night (11% vs. 6%). Survivor households were also found to have more than double the odds of non-availability of food at any day/night/day and night. Based on SEM, the overall standardized estimate between IPV and food insecurity constructs suggested a positive association between IPV and food insecurity. Among survivors who had incurred any health expenditure, approximately 13% faced CHE. Findings from this study suggest that effective prevention strategies for IPV can serve as a preventive measure against poverty. By investing in initiatives that promote healthy relationships, gender equality, and economic empowerment for women, policymakers can create environments less conducive to IPV, ultimately reducing the risk of poverty among affected households. In addition, integrating IPV prevention efforts into broader poverty reduction initiatives can maximize impact and create more sustainable pathways to economic stability and well-being for all.