Abstract
This study examined intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences among co-wives in polygynous marriages (first versus second or later-order) and monogamous unions, focusing on how community, household, and individual factors affect these relationships. Data from the 2015 Afghanistan demographic and health survey (AFDHS) were used, with a final sample of 21,324 currently married and in-union women aged 15–49. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis and a non-linear decomposition approach (Fairlie method) were used to investigate this association. Over half of the women (50.8%) reported experiencing at least one form of IPV—physical (47.5%), emotional (32.1%), or sexual (8.9%). Logistic regression showed that first-ranked wives in polygynous unions faced significantly higher odds of experiencing physical (aOR = 2.98), emotional (aOR = 2.55), sexual (aOR = 1.94), and any IPV (aOR = 2.71) (all p < 0.001). Fairlie decomposition revealed a 9.7 to 45% greater IPV risk for first-ranked wives than second or later-order wives in polygynous unions, and 10.8 to 72% compared to only wives in monogamous unions, largely driven by community-level factors. The first wife in a polygynous union is more likely to experience IPV, and this study identifies important structural factors contributing to IPV. By focusing on evidence-based interventions and cross-sector collaboration, stakeholders in Afghanistan and other conflict-affected areas can work to decrease IPV and promote gender equality.
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Data availability
The data are available upon request. The dataset used for the analysis and the conclusions of this study are available online at MEASURE DHS (https://www.dhsprogram.com/data/available-datasets.cfm). It is released upon request and subject to approval.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for permission to utilize the Afghanistan DHS data for the current research.
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MFA, LH, and MBM conducted data management, analysis, and interpretation. MFA and MRA conceptualized and designed the study. MFA drafted the manuscript. LH and DR provided administrative and technical support for data processing and analysis. MBM and MFA critically reviewed and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Akbary, M.F., Marefat, M.B., Rasa, D. et al. Structural determinants of intimate partner violence in Afghanistan: unequal risks for women in polygamous and monogamous unions. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36161-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36161-6
