Are Attitudes towards Domestic Violence Associated with Risky Sexual Behaviors among Men and Women in Kazakhstan?

Annie Dude, University of Chicago

This paper utilizes data from the 1999 Demographic and Health Survey in Kazakhstan to examine associations between domestic violence tolerance among men and women and reported sexual behaviors, including multiple partnerships, contraceptive behavior, and frequency of intercourse. Using logistic regression, I find that lifetime condom usage declines significantly with increasing domestic violence tolerance for both men and women or all ages and marital statuses, and that recent condom use significantly decreases with increasing tolerance of domestic violence among men. The likelihood of multiple sexual partners in the last year increases significantly with increasing tolerance of domestic violence for young men and for unmarried women. Domestic violence tolerance does not seem to have a significant effect on sexual frequency. Using attitudes towards domestic violence as a proxy for power within intimate relationships, these findings highlight the association between the status of women and sexual risk of HIV and other STIs.