Effects of Intimate Partner Violence and Childhood Trauma on Depression in Ghanaian Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and childhood trauma are highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), especially among women. These two traumatic experiences can adversely affect the physical and mental health status of the victims. One of the mental health consequences is major depressive disorder, a relatively neglected health issue in SSA. This study aims to examine the association between IPV and depression and determine if there is any significant interaction between IPV and childhood trauma as predictors of depression among Ghanaian women. Methods: The current study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data obtained from 1877 women during the Ghana Community-Based Action Teams Study in the central region of Ghana between 2016-2019. The negative binomial regression model was used for univariable and multivariable analyses, and interaction plots were used to study interaction effects. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: Emotional violence was the most commonly reported form of IPV, with a prevalence of 24.6% (95% CI: 20.5-29.2). Regression analysis showed that after controlling for childhood trauma, age, income level, marital status, level of education, disability and pregnancy status, only emotional (coef. =1.038, 95%CI: 1.018– 1.058, p-value <0.001) and sexual (coef. =1.037, 95%CI: 1.022– 1.053, p-value <0.001) IPV were significant predictors of depression. Except for economic IPV, there was a statistically significant interaction effect between IPV and childhood trauma (coef. = 0.995, 95%CI: 0.992– 0.998, p-value=0.003). Conclusion: Exposure to emotional and sexual IPV significantly predisposes women to develop depressive symptoms. There is a significant interaction effect between early and late-life trauma on the occurrence of depression. Public health interventions to reduce IPV and childhood trauma must be strengthened in addition to early case identification and support through screening.