Violent Relations: An Ecological Analysis of Factors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract: The purpose of this qualitative case study was to add to the understanding of why intimate partner violence against women perpetrated by a male partner occurs in Kampala, Uganda. The study combined a feminist and a family violence perspective by using an integrative ecological framework which structured the analysis around four levels: societal, community, individual/relationship, and individual level. The methods used were interviews and document analysis. A feminist analysis of the societal level found that rigid and deeply rooted gender roles and norms, harmful cultural traditions and practices, a somewhat weak legal climate, and negative attitudes, values, and beliefs towards women, made women vulnerable of being exposed to violence. A combined feminist and family violence analysis of the community, relationship/family, and individual level found that certain factors only triggered violence if a man had been socialised to have negative attitudes towards women. In the instances where men had been socialised to disrespect women, power differentiations between women and men, poverty, alcohol abuse, and intergenerational transmission of violence were strongly associated with the use of violence.