Attitudes and Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence in a Conservative Christian Church in Nigeria

Evans Nwachukwu Nwaomah

doi:10.7176/rhss/9-10-04

Abstract

This study examined attitude and perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) in a conservative Christian Church in Nigeria. The study utilizing anonymous survey methodology sampled 377 participants attending Seventh Day Adventist Church in Port Harcourt area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Findings from this study indicate intimate partner violence is wide spread in this population. The results show a significant relationship exist between, men's perceived right to control their wives' behaviour by force and justify such behaviour as culturally acceptable. The results therefore, indicate the need for family life education. The clergy and laity and those in the helping professions, community leaders and non-governmental organizations would need to device strategies towards putting an end to violence against women. Keywords: Attitude, Perception, Women, Violence, Culture, Counselling. DOI : 10.7176/RHSS/9-10-04 Publication date :May 31 st 2019

Highlights

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women, otherwise referred to as wife beating, seems a growing social problem in Nigeria and in Sub-Saharan Africa
The result of this study show intimate partner violence cuts across social class and boundaries and it is a serious problem among couples in the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Nigeria showing no signs of abating, as silence on abuse against women still pervade our society (Nason-Clark, 2004; Fortune, 1991; Potter, 2007)
Education Income Family economic picture Church attendance Practice the doctrines of your church Domestic abuse is a serious problem in the Adventist church The severity of domestic abuse has been exaggerated by the "women's movement" Men use violence against women to gain power and control Abuse only occurs if physical violence happens Emotional abuse can be just as harmful as physical abuse The multiple stepwise regression analysis indicates that three factors are independently and significantly related to physical victimization by an intimate partner

Summary

Very conservatively

3.0 Data Analysis Port Harcourt is an ethnically diverse community. The ethnic composition, language and culture in Port Harcourt area differ from each other. This study which explored the attitudes and perception of intimate partner abuse in a conservative Christian Church in Nigeria, is similar to the findings of Drumm et al, (2006) in North America area of the US; and Nason-Clark (2009) in Atlantic Canada. Their findings validates the result of this study which shows the prevalence of domestic abuse within Christian congregations. The study utilizing anonymous survey methodology sampled 377 participants attending some Seventh-Day Adventist Churches in Port Harcourt area of Rivers State, Nigeria. This exploratory study utilized survey questionnaires and asked the following questions. What types of attitudes and personal characteristics are related to intimate partner physical victimization?

Male Female

Sex N M SD t p

Findings

Practice the doctrines of your church