The Association Between Depression, Suicidal Thoughts and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Young Men in Mwanza, Tanzania

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Abstract Purpose Depression and suicidal thoughts are associated with intimate partner violence, a major public health problem. Yet little is known about this association among young men in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to investigate the relationship between depression, suicidal thoughts and intimate partner violence perpetration, among young men in Tanzania from a representative community-based sample. Methods We conducted a cross sectional survey among 1002 young men aged between 18 and 24 years residing in Mwanza city, Tanzania. Participants were randomly selected from 6 wards that included 3 densely and 3 sparsely populated wards from the Ilemela and Nyamagana districts that were selected using a probability-based multi-stage cluster sampling approach. We collected data on participant’s socio-demographics, depression symptoms using the PHQ9, suicidal thoughts, other psychosocial factors, and perpetration of different forms of intimate partner violence. Analysis was done using Stata version 17.0 and restricted to 828 participants who self-reported being in intimate relationships in the past twelve months. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine the association between the outcome variables with intimate partner violence perpetration and other psychosocial factors. Results Out of 828 young men, 333(40.2%) reported depressive symptoms and 93(11.9%) suicidal thoughts, with 725(87.6%) reporting ever perpetrating any form of intimate partner violence and 653(78.9%) reporting it in the past 12 months. After adjusting for other factors in multivariable models, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with sexual intimate partner violence perpetration (aOR = 2.19, 95%CI = 1.57, 3.04), economic intimate partner violence perpetration (aOR = 1.32 95%CI = 1.01, 1.74), emotional intimate partner violence perpetration (aOR = 1.76, 95%CI = 1.26, 2.46) and controlling behaviours (aOR = 1.46 95%CI = 1.10, 1.93). Conclusions Depression is a common health problem strongly associated with intimate partner violence perpetration in this study population. Effective interventions to address depression and other mental health problems may help to reduce intimate partner violence perpetration in this population. Implications Researchers and practitioners should develop theory-based research and intervention programmes to address mental health problems such as depression and suicidal thoughts and the perpetration of intimate partner violence. The socio-ecological framework provides an insightful model for multiple level analysis and intervention.

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