Men's response to their wives' participation in microfinance: perpetration and justification of intimate partner violence in Bangladesh

- Developing countries like Bangladesh have developed financial programs such as microfinance to empower women.
- There is a dearth of programs that focus on men.
- Study findings indicate that living in urban areas is negatively associated with justification of intimate partner violence (IPV).
- Wives' participation in microfinance is associated with men's justification of IPV in urban areas.
- This indicates that microfinance participation in urban areas may not be normalized in the same way it is in rural areas of Bangladesh.

ObjectiveThe present study adds to extant literature on the association between microfinance participation and intimate partner violence (IPV) by assessing a national sample of men married to microfinance participants. The key objective was to assess whether there was a positive association between wives' microfinance participation and men's perpetration and justification of IPV in urban areas of Bangladesh.Study designThis study is based on a population-based secondary data analysis.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, data from a national sample of men from the 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey were analysed using logistic regression analyses. IPV perpetration was measured using a modified Conflict Tactics Scale and justification of IPV was measured based on 'justification of wife beating' statements with which men agreed or disagreed.ResultsMen married to microfinance participants were not significantly different from men married to non-participants of microfinance in terms of IPV perpetration in both urban and rural areas. However, the interaction effect of wives' microfinance participation and urban living on men's justification of IPV revealed a significant and positive beta coefficient. Specifically, wives' participation in microfinance was positively associated with men's justification of IPV in urban areas (β = 0.51, P < 0.05).ConclusionMicrofinance organizations in urban areas should bundle microfinancial services with IPV screening and intervention geared toward men and women.