Abstract
BackgroundHealthcare providers have advocated for the screening and management of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) against women and its consequences. Unfortunately, data from high income countries suggest that women may have varied preferences for being screened for IPV in healthcare. Although women's preference for screening in sub-Saharan countries has not been well researched, IPV remains an accepted societal norm in many of these countries, including Nigeria.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to assess women's acceptance of screening for IPV in healthcare, the extent to which inquiry about IPV was carried out in healthcare and whether such inquiry impacted on satisfaction with care.MethodData on these variables were gathered through structured interviews from a sample of 507 women at a regional hospital in Kano, Nigeria. The study design was cross-sectional.ResultsThe results found acceptance for screening in the sample to be high (76%), but few women (7%) had actually been probed about violence in their contact with care providers. Acceptance for screening was associated with being married and being employed. Actual screening was associated with ethnicity and religion, where ethnic and religious majorities were more likely to be screened. Finally, being screened for IPV seemed to improve satisfaction with care.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate the need for adaptation of a screening protocol that is also sensitive to detect IPV amongst all ethnic and religious groups. The findings also have implications for further education of socio-economically disadvantaged women on the benefits of screening.
Highlights
Data from high income countries suggest that women may have varied preferences for being screened for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in healthcare.[3,4,5,6]
The majority (76%, n = 355) of the participants found it acceptable to be probed about IPV in healthcare and almost 20% regarded such inquiries as unacceptable (Table 2)
An important implication of these results is that women find inquiry of IPV acceptable, but for some reason may not be in position yet to disclose if asked
Summary
A recent development in the prevention and control of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been the involvement of healthcare professionals through screening for the practice amongst their female clients.[1,2] Yet, data from high income countries suggest that women may have varied preferences for being screened for IPV in healthcare.[3,4,5,6] women’s preference for screening in sub-Saharan countries has not been well-researched, IPV remains an accepted societal norm in many of these countries including Nigeria.[7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15] women in these settings appear to endorse IPV to a higher degree than the men,[9,16] raising questions as to whether female clients in such settings may accept being screened for IPV. Women’s preference for screening in sub-Saharan countries has not been well researched, IPV remains an accepted societal norm in many of these countries, including Nigeria
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
