Intimate Partner Violence and Level of Household Food Scarcity in Mozambique.

This article examines the relationship between varying levels of hunger and intimate partner violence (IPV) among married women in Mozambique, using data from a quasi-experimental study involving 202 participants. The findings indicate a significant dose–response association, where women experiencing severe hunger had between 3.5 and 5 times greater odds of reporting IPV compared to those without hunger, even after controlling for demographic, mental health (depression), social support, assets, and self-efficacy factors. The study highlights self-efficacy—defined as a person's belief in their capacity to control aspects of their life—as an important protective factor that may mitigate IPV risk linked to food insecurity. The authors suggest that effective IPV prevention in Mozambique and similar contexts should integrate hunger relief efforts alongside interventions aimed at enhancing women's empowerment and self-efficacy, while acknowledging limitations such as the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data.