Prevalence of and risk factors for domestic violence among pregnant women in Nigeria

Abstract

Violence against women is defined as any act of gender-based violence that results in any kind of harm or suffering to women and has negative emotional and physical impacts on women’s health. According to studies from several parts of the world the prevalence of domestic violence varies widely. In low-resource countries studies conducted reveal a prevalence of 4%-29% while local studies from various parts of Nigeria have reported values ranging from 11%-59%. The aim of this present study was to determine the prevalence of and the risk factors for domestic violence among patients receiving prenatal care at a teaching hospital in south-western Nigeria. Using a modified WHO questionnaire to assess the occurrence and pattern of domestic violence findings affirmed that domestic violence before pregnancy is a risk factor for domestic violence during pregnancy. The findings indicate that domestic violence is prevalent in the obstetric population of southwestern Nigeria. Screening for violence should become a component of comprehensive maternity care in addition to rehabilitation for women and behavioral counseling for their spouses. [excerpt] Copyright © 2013 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.