Ojogiwa, Oluwaseun T.Sulaiman, Lanre Abdul-RasheedIssah, Moshood2025-08-292025-08-292025-08Ojogiwa, O.T., Sulaiman, L.AR. & Issah, M. Factors influencing intimate partner controlling behaviour against rural women in South Africa. BMC Public Health 25, 2797 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23856-0.1471-2458 (online)10.1186/s12889-025-23856-0http://hdl.handle.net/2263/104059DATA AVAILABILITY : The data used for this study are publicly available and can be requested from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program through their data access platform: https://www.dhsprogram.com/data/.BACKGROUND : The widespread issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa profoundly affects various aspects of life, necessitating government intervention for prevention. While numerous studies have found intimate partner controlling behaviour (IPCB) to be more prevalent in rural areas, the factors contributing to its high prevalence have not been unmasked. This study, therefore, investigates the factors influencing IPCB against rural women in South Africa. METHODS : The study was based on the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS). Data was extracted for married rural women aged 15–49 years. Frequency distribution, mean, and standard deviation were the descriptive statistics used, while bivariate and multivariate logistics regression were the inferential statistics used to establish the factors associated with IPCB in rural areas of South Africa. RESULTS : Age, race, partner alcohol consumption, years in current residence, account ownership, and household wealth index were the factors associated with the high prevalence of IPCB among rural women in South Africa. Women who were younger, had partners who drank alcohol, lived in poorer households, or had no personal bank account had higher odds of experiencing IPCB. CONCLUSION : Age, race, partner alcohol consumption, years in current residence, account ownership, and household wealth index were the factors influencing IPCB against rural women in South Africa. Thus, younger women, Black African women, those in poor households, and women with partners who consume alcohol, are more vulnerable to IPCB.en© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.Gender-based violence (GBV)South Africa (SA)Intimate partner controlling behaviour (IPCB)Rural womenGender dynamicsPatriarchal normsDomestic violenceArticle