Spatial Patterns in Domestic Violence and HIV Prevalence in Nigeria

Abstract

We explore the spatial patterns of domestic violence and HIV prevalence between states in Nigeria using the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey and the 2010 ANC Sentinel Surveillance Survey. The analysis revealed a sizeable number of women in the country suffer physical and sexual violence which occurs across the social strata and ethnic groups in Nigeria. Based on the previous studies that have already established a link between domestic violence and declining in health status of women, the paper examines the linkage between domestic violence and HIV prevalence in Nigeria. We found spatial linkage between the two concepts or variables though we did not establish a causal relationship. We found women in states with a high HIV prevalence rate had either experienced physical and/or sexual violence from their spouses. Based on the results, it shows that there is a need to further explore the causal relationships between domestic violence and health outcomes especially HIV infections. Thus, the spatial linkage between domestic violence and HIV prevalence in Nigeria will be highly context-specific. The study demonstrated a spatial interrelationship between domestic violence and HIV prevalence, thus, planning HIV prevention programming should also design activities or intervention to concurrently address the domestic violent aspects. Since it has been documented and current attempts reveal a connection between domestic violence and HIV infection in Nigeria, there is a need for further research to investigate the relationship between domestic violence and HIV in Nigeria to increase the evidence. Keywords: HIV, domestic violence, Nigeria, spatial analysis, women. Read more →