Influence of social economic status components on genderbased violence and infant mortality in Uganda

Abstract

Uganda has through the National Development Plan setout 5 year targets in order to accelerate the reduction in infant mortality for which unfortunately, these targets have not been met. This study therefore sought to examine the influence of social economic status components on gender-based violence and infant mortality in Uganda using the 2018 nationally representative Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS). The UDHS data underwent a three tier analysis that is univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses using SPSS. Findings from the bivariate analysis revealed that level of education attainment of both parents was significant in influencing infant mortality in Uganda. It revealed that socioeconomic status factors which included type of place of residence, educational attainment. It was further revealed that physical violence was influenced by type of place of residence, educational attainment. The study findings revealed that socioeconomic status influenced sexual violence which included being physically forced into unwanted sex by partner, being forced into unwanted sexual acts by husband, and lastly physically forced to perform sexual acts that they did not want. Using binary logistic regression, the study findings revealed that experiencing emotional violence increased the likelihood of infant mortality. The study revealed that infant mortality was influenced by emotional violence which include being humiliated by the partner, threats with harm by the partner. It was further revealed that it was influenced by physical violence inflicted on the person according to their gender which included being slapped, being drugged, strangled by the partner. Lastly it also revealed that sexual violence influenced infant mortality especially being forced into unwanted sex and sexual acts by husband. Using a logistic regression model, the results revealed that gender based violence was influenced the following socioeconomic components area of residence, husband’s level of education especially completing secondary level, wealth index, and level of education of the respondent. The factors that influenced gender based violence using multinomial logistic regression include area of residence, mother’s education level, husband/partner’s level of education. The government and its development partners should ensure universal access to education beyond the primary and secondary level and sensitize communities to the importance of sending all their children particularly girls to school. This will reduce early marriages and empower mothers with both knowledge and means to give quality care to their children.