One in three Zambian women, aged 15-49 justify wife-beating —Health survey reveals

More than a third of Zambian women aged 15–49 believe a husband is justified in beating his wife for refusing sex or for other reasons, according to the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS).

The findings highlight deeply entrenched social norms that continue to drive gender-based violence across the country.

The survey shows that 16 percent of women think it is acceptable for a man to assault his wife for burning food, while seven percent of men share the same view.

“Another 18 percent of women say a husband is justified in hitting his wife for leaving the house without informing him; 13 percent of men also agree.

Overall, 34 percent of women—compared to a lower share of men—believe wife-beating is justified under certain circumstances,” the survey showed.

In addition, 20 percent of women said a man is justified in beating a wife who refuses sex, while 10 percent of men concur.

Beyond gender-based violence attitudes, the ZDHS highlights persistent concerns around early sexual debut among adolescents and young adults.

Despite improvements in several health indicators, many young Zambians continue engaging in sexual activity long before marriage, with implications for education, reproductive health and gender equality.

Survey data show the median age at first sexual intercourse for women is 16.6 years, nearly three years earlier than the median age at first marriage of 19.6. For men, the median age at first sex is 18.2 years, occurring more than six years before the median marriage age of 24.5.

Historical trends show that early sexual debut among women has remained consistently high.

The proportion of women aged 25–49 who had first sexual intercourse by age 18 dropped from 71 percent in 1992 to 58 percent in 2013–14, before rising to 69 percent in 2018 and stabilising at 68 percent in 2024.

Among men, the rate fell from 65 percent in 1996 to 43 percent in 2018 but has since increased to 48 percent in 2024.

Health experts say the persistence of early sexual initiation reflects broader socio-cultural factors, including limited access to comprehensive sexuality education, economic hardship and peer pressure—issues requiring targeted intervention.

The survey further reports that 53 percent of women and 56 percent of men aged 15–49 had sex in the four weeks preceding the survey, indicating high levels of ongoing sexual activity among reproductive-age adults.

Meanwhile, 13 percent of women and 14 percent of men reported never having had sex.

Advocates warn that early sexual debut increases the risks of teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and school dropout—especially for girls.

They are calling for strengthened interventions such as age-appropriate sexuality education, expanded youth-friendly health services and community-based efforts to shift harmful social norms and support healthier transitions to adulthood.

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