Research about the association between early marriage and intimate partner
violence (IPV) in low-income countries has yielded conflicting evidence.
The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of and associations
between early marriage, and IPV among adolescents and young adults in
Viet Nam. Secondary analysis of data from the national Survey Assessment
of Viet Namese Youth–Round II (SAVY-II) conducted in 2009-2010, which
assessed a representative cohort of people aged 14 to 25 years recruited via
a systematic household survey was undertaken. Prevalence was established
using descriptive statistics. The association between early marriage and IPV
was examined using multiple logistic regressions, adjusting for potential risk
factors. Of 10,044 participants, 1,701 had ever married and were included in
analyses. Early marriage (before age 18), and experiences of verbal, physical,
or sexual IPV were more common among females than males. More young
married men than women reported experiences of controlling behaviors by
their partners. Early marriage, being illiterate, and exposure to sexual abuse
were associated with experience of IPV among young females, but not among young males. Poverty and exposure to family violence was associated with
IPV in both sexes. Addressing early marriage, low educational opportunities
for girls, childhood sexual abuse, family violence, and poverty should be
considered in strategies to reduce IPV in Viet Nam.