Background. One third of women experience IPV and potential sequelae. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.2, to eliminate all violence against women, including IPV, compels national governments to monitor such violence. We conducted the first global measurement-invariance assessment of standardized physical IPV items.
Methods. Thirty-six Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from 36 Lower-/Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) administering the same 18 IPV items during 2012-2018 were included. We performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA) with seven physical IPV items, which are the most behaviorally specific and reliable. Datasets meeting EFA/CFA model fit criteria (loadings>.35, RMSEA<.08, CFI/TLI>.95) were included in multiple-group CFA to test strict measurement invariance, and in alignment optimization (AO) to test approximate measurement invariance. We compared national rankings based on AO-derived scores and lifetime physical IPV prevalences, and correlated AO-dervied scores with physical, sexual, and psychological IPV prevalences.
Results. Estimated lifetime physical IPV varied widely (5.6%-50.5%). All loadings and fit statistics met thresholds in country-specific EFA/CFAs. A unidimensional, seven-item physical IPV construct lacked scalar invariance in multiple-group CFA but achieved approximate measurement invariance in AO analysis, as 12.3% (<25%) of model parameters were non-invariant. National rankings of AO-derived scores and estimated physical IPV prevalences were similarly distributed, but national estimates often were not significantly different, so grouped score ranges or prevalence ranges are advised. Three items (slap, twist, choke) warrant cognitive testing to improve their psychometric performance. Correlations of AO-derived scores with IPV prevalences ranged from .48 to .66.
Conclusions. Seven DHS physical-IPV items were approximately invariant across 36 LMICs spanning five regions and are reasonable for cross-national, grouped comparison of physical IPV. Measurement-invariance testing over time will inform their utility to monitor SDG5.2.1; cross-national and cross-time measurement-invariance testing of other IPV item sets is warranted.