Prevalence and Forms of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization among In-Service University Students

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a multi-faceted problem of global scope with a wide range of short- and long-term detrimental effects to the individuals involved in it and the larger public as well. The prime purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and forms of IPV perpetration and victimization among in-service university students in Ethiopia. Four hundred and sixteen undergraduate and graduate summer in-service students (271 men and 145 women) provided the data through self-administered questionnaire. Percentage and chi-square test of independence were used to analyze and make meaning of the data. Results showed that IPV is highly prevalent in the current sample. About one-half of the participants (49.88%) and majority (71.74%) of them responded that they perpetrated at least one form of physical violence and psychological violence, respectively, against their current or former partner. Similarly, more than one-third (35.27%) and significantly greater than one-half (56.97%) of them admitted having been victims of physical violence and psychological violence perpetrated, respectively, by a current or former intimate partner. Several specific forms of physical and psychological violence were observed in the current sample. In aggregate, no significant gender differences were found in psychological violence perpetration, physical violence victimization and psychological violence victimization but physical violence perpetration was significantly more prevalent among men than among women. Both men and women are perpetrators and victims of IPV and, therefore, elimination of domestic violence requires integrated prevention strategies derived from family perspective that target both women and men.