Abstract
BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) refers to a violation of women’s reproductive rights as it impacts on their sexual and reproductive health autonomy.AimIn this study, we aimed at assessing the pattern of IPV and the socio-cultural determinants and predictors of partner violence in a rural community setting where the bulk of the abuse prevails.SettingThis study was conducted in a rural community in Southern Nigeria.MethodsThis study employed a mixed method comprising seven focus group discussions (FGDs) and quantitative components. The cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst 209 ever married or cohabited females in 2018 using the World Health Organization (WHO) multi-country survey questionnaire adapted to the study objectives. Data analysis was conducted by using IBM SPSS v21.0. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsThe overall IPV prevalence was 79.4%. The prevalence of partner’s controlling behaviour, emotional IPV, physical IPV and sexual IPV was 62.6%, 55.98%, 49.3% and 2.6%, respectively. Membership of an interest group was protective against IPV (OR = 0.430, 95% CI = 0.193–0.957) whilst the belief that a good wife obeys her partner even if she disagrees (OR = 9.201, 95% CI = 1.299–65.194) and the belief that it is the wife’s obligation to have sex with the husband even if she doesn’t feel like (OR = 2.356, 95% CI = 1.049–5.288) were risk factors.ConclusionThe burden of IPV in the studied rural community is enormous. There should be public enlightenment to desensitise people regarding the erroneous views that encourage partner violence. We encourage women to become a part of social groups that can enhance their education and empowerment.
Highlights
As clearly defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), intimate partner violence (IPV) refers to any behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes physical, psychological or sexual harm to those in the relationship.[1]
The prevalence of 79.4% is higher in comparison to a prevalence of 53.3% obtained earlier in a study in Benin City, Nigeria[20] despite similar measures applied in both studies. This difference may be accounted for by the population sampled. Whilst this earlier study was conducted amongst antenatal clinic attendees, the index study was a community-based study drawing its strength from the heterogenicity of the population and rural community where IPV is more likely to be prevalent
This study revealed the staggering magnitude of threats confronting human rights with the overall IPV prevalence of 79.4%
Summary
As clearly defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), intimate partner violence (IPV) refers to any behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes physical, psychological or sexual harm to those in the relationship.[1] It is one of the most common human rights violations and epitomises, in a very vivid manner, the inequality between men and women. The everincreasing quest for power, autonomy, patriarchal tendencies and economic insecurities accentuates the practice.[2,3] It is currently becoming a major public health problem in most countries, but evidence from representative, community-based studies is said to be limited.[4]. The prevalence varies between rural and urban, community- and hospital-based studies and developing and developed countries. Intimate partner violence (IPV) refers to a violation of women’s reproductive rights as it impacts on their sexual and reproductive health autonomy
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