The Silent Pandemic: Increased Initimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been identified as a global public health problem of human rights concern. It is a global issue with far reaching consequences for the physical, reproductive, and mental health of women, regardless of social, economic, religious or cultural group. Most of the times, IPV is usually perpetrated by a husband or an intimate male partner of a woman or girl and this is often due to the emotional attachment with or economic dependency of the women on the perpetrators of violence. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measure, although effective in reducing the disease spread has led to unintended negative consequences. The social, economic and financial distress experienced during the COVID-19 lockdown period has increased the prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence. The financial difficulty associated with the lock-down period has been known to precipitate stress and frustration, and subsequent negative coping mechanisms such as substance abuse and depression; all of which are baseline triggers for intimate partner violence. This has been labelled the silent pandemic. This article examines the rise in incidences of Intimate Partner violence in Nigeria during the COVID-19 Pandemic and contends that Individual Risk Factors, Financial Dependence on the Abuser, Poor Implementation of the rights of women, Cultural Perception of Women, Poor Governance and Resource Management, Lack of Adequate Social Welfare Palliative Schemes, in addition to the complications arising from dealing with COVID-19 pandemic are major factors that have resulted in the surge of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria. This work underscores recommendations to curb Intimate Partner violence in Nigeria during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure better realization of the rights and welfare of women and girls such as Legal Framework Reform, Socio Economic Empowerment of Women and girls, Community Mobilization and Behaviour Change Communication, Awareness Creation, and establishment of Sexual Assault Referral and Counselling Centres.