https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063220910728 Sexual Abuse 1–21 © The Author(s) 2020 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/1079063220910728 journals.sagepub.com/home/sax Article Determinants of Sexual Violence Against Married Women: Qualitative Evidence From Ghana Gervin A. Apatinga 1 and Eric Y Tenkorang 1 Abstract Some evidence suggests that in sub-Saharan Africa, sexual violence is commonplace among married women, yet this problem is underresearched. Using qualitative methods and applying Heise’s social-ecological model, this study examined the experiences of 15 Ghanaian women suffering sexual violence in their marriages. Results from the thematic analysis indicate several determinants of sexual violence. Whereas some participants identified macro-level and exosystem factors, including poverty, others pointed to micro-level and ontogenic factors, such as husbands’ substance abuse. The results corroborate the core idea of Heise’s framework, namely, that structural- and individual-level factors make women vulnerable to violence. The study concludes that Ghanaian legal and policy frameworks must be enforced and strengthened to address the etiology of sexual violence and abuse. Keywords married women, sexual violence, violence, Ghana, Eastern Region, Africa Introduction Sexual violence is defined as “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or other act directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting including but not limited to home and work” (Jewkes et al., 2002, p. 149). It is a common public health problem that violates the fundamental human rights of victims and exposes them to other risks and vulner- abilities. It occurs in various forms, including but not limited to rape, sexual slavery, 1 Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada Corresponding Author: Eric Y Tenkorang, Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Ave., St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada A1C 5S7. Email: ytenko@yahoo.com 910728SAX XX X 10.1177/1079063220910728Sexual AbuseApatinga and Tenkorang research-article 2020