Intimate Partner Violence In Nigeria Research Articles

Understanding Help-Seeking Behavior Among Intimate Partner Violence Victims in Nigeria.

This study sought to examine help-seeking behaviors among Nigerian women who had experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). Out of 3,802 women who reported that they had experienced IPV in the past year, two-thirds (67%) of the women did not seek any help, 31% sought informal help, and only 1.9% sought formal help. A multinomial regression was run in order to examine factors associated with seeking formal help or informal help, with seeking no help used as the reference group. Higher education, witnessing their father hit their mother, husband's controlling behaviors, experiencing physical IPV, and having a physical injury were all related to informal help-seeking compared to seeking no help. Witnessing their father hit their mother, experiencing physical IPV, and physical injury were associated with formal help-seeking. The results of this study can potentially be used to reduce barriers to help-seeking among women who have experienced IPV in Nigeria. Implications are discussed.

The challenges and needs of male victims of intimate partner violence in Nigeria: what victims and professionals say

ABSTRACT Historically, interventions have focused on female victims due to intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionate occurrence. Consequently, male victims face significant challenges and unmet needs due to lack of tailored interventions. In under-resourced countries like Nigeria, where male victimization is under-researched and under-documented, the situation is even worse. Using the grounded theory methodology, this study examined the needs and challenges of male victims from the perspective of victims, and professionals who served as key informants. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews from 35 male victims aged ≥18 across 12 states in the southern region of Nigeria, and four professionals were interviewed based on their availability. Data were analysed using content analysis based on category development of the grounded theory method. The challenges and needs identified include balance in the law, need for mental health services, creating a safe space, communal involvement, and victims need to speak up. They were all discussed around an overarching theme of masculinity and societal stereotypes. Re-examination of the existing laws as they apply to male victims, enlightenment campaigns, establishment of tailored institutions or rebranding of existing institution, and creation of support groups were recommended.

Need for closure is linked with traumatic bonding among victims of intimate partner violence: A mediation approach

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an increasingly prevalent problem in most parts of the world, including Nigeria. Very little is known about why persons who experience IPV sometimes decide to remain in the abusive relationships. In this study, we investigate whether the need for closure (NFC) may play significant roles in the association of IPV and the decision to stay in abusive relationships (traumatic bonding). Specifically, we tested if NFC would mediate the relationship between IPV and traumatic bonding (TB) among victims of IPV in Nigeria. Participants were 345 women, purposively selected from female clients who visited the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SART) in Awka, Anambra State ( n = 145) and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Lagos ( n = 200). Their age ranged from 18–61 years (M = 35.79; SD = 8.6 years). They responded to the Composite Abuse Scale, the Need for Closure Scale, and the Stockholm Syndrome Scale. Results of data analysis using the Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro showed that IPV was not significantly associated with traumatic bonding while NFC was positively associated with increased traumatic bonding. Estimates of indirect effects indicated that NFC mediated the relationship of IPV and TB serving as a pathway through which IPV was linked to dimensions of TB. This shows that NFC may engender tendencies that increase the likelihood of traumatic bonding. The implications of these findings were discussed across policy, research and psychotherapeutic practice.

Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria: A Review of the Literature

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pervasive human rights issue of great public health importance in Nigeria. This article aims to review and synthesize available knowledge on Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria and provides information that fills the knowledge gap noted in international and global reports related to Nigeria’s experiences. A literature search was conducted on empirical studies in English using the keywords ‘Intimate, Partner, Violence, IPV AND Nigeria.’ The databases searched were Research for Life r4Life, Google Scholar and ProQuest Central and the articles included in this review cover studies published from 2008 to 2023. The results show that IPV studies have multidimensional approaches and are influenced by multi-level predictors across cultural, socioeconomic, and educational factors. Interventions are therefore multiprong to address specific aspects depending on the context. Regional differences exist giving varied results, each community setting may have peculiarities that cannot be generalized to every Nigerian community. Future research should focus on large-scale community-based primary research to address IPV. Keywords: ‘Intimate, Partner, Violence, Domestic Violence, IPV AND Nigeria.

Perceived social support and the experience of intimate partner violence among married and cohabiting young women in urban slums, Ibadan, Nigeria: a descriptive study

BackgroundSocial support is an important factor for improving the outcome of intimate partner violence (IPV) among abused women. Gaps exist on the role of social support among young women who...

Intimate partner violence; breaking the silence on male victims in Nigeria

Globally, men have always been seen as perpetrators of aggression in romantic relationship which constitute intimate partner violence (IPV). In Nigeria, they are mostly considered as the villains due to the patriarchal nature of the society. However, there have many cases of violence by intimate partners where men were the victims. Very few of such cases were reported either to the hospital or to the police due to many reasons ranging from sociocultural, ethnic, economic and religious values among others. In a patriarchal society like Nigeria, men experience various form of violence which could be physical, psychological, sexual and socioeconomic from intimate partners. Therefore, this article attempts to review the reported incidence of male victims of IPV in Nigeria and the peculiarities involved while providing recommendations. Some of the factors identified for the low incidence report includes; lack of routine screening for domestic violence in health facilities, the fact that psychological violence is not considered as violence in some Nigerian society, shame about disclosing family violence, poor socioeconomic status and many more. Additionally, a major predictor of female-perpetrated IPV was childhood exposure to violence. This paper recommends that several actions which would improve the report of IPV against men while ameliorating IPV in Nigeria may involve: raising public awareness, legal protection, increasing health care worker sensitivity, provision of support services, research and proper data collection among others.

Pray for Improvement: Experiences with Mediation of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

AbstractThis study examines victims’ experiences with informal mediation conducted by Catholic priests and nuns in Nigeria. Interviews were conducted with 20 women who sought help from priests and nuns as they had experienced intimate partner violence. Their expectations before and experiences during and after this mediation were explored. Findings suggest that the level of intimate partner violence experienced by victims remains high, and in most cases their expectations of the mediation are not sufficiently met. Most priests and nuns tend to convince victims to forgive their husband and accept their situation while reinstating the patriarchal mentality without any sustainable improvement. Most victims report revictimization episodes after mediation. Implications for theory and practice of mediation by religious leaders are discussed.

Regional variations in the acceptance and experience of intimate partner violence in Nigeria: Revisiting cosmopolitan-success and conservative-failure hypothesis.

This study investigates regional variations in the factors associated with acceptance and actual experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) among married women in northern and southern Nigeria - two regions with distinct socio-cultural and economic differences. Data from the 2018 demographic and health survey are analysed to compare these two regions. The sample comprised married/living-with-partner women within the reproductive age of 15-49. Overall, a positive association exists between IPV experience and IPV acceptance, regardless of which is used as the outcome variable. Contrary to the notion that IPV is prevalent where its acceptance is high, this study finds that the reverse is true. IPV acceptance is significantly higher in the north than in the south (39.4% versus 14.7%), but the reverse is the case for the actual experience of IPV (20.1% versus 24.7%). Being employed and having access to the internet reduce the odds of IPV victimisation for women in the south, but increases the chances for northern women. Muslims in the north have significantly higher odds of IPV acceptance than their Christian counterparts in the same region, but the reverse is the case in the south. Regional differences also exist in the influence of decision-making, educational difference between spouses, and media exposure. While the cosmopolitan-success and conservative-failure hypothesis explains the regional differences in the acceptance of IPV, it fails to explain differences in the actual experience of IPV. The study provides alternative explanations for the regional differences in the experience of IPV and acceptance of it in Nigeria, and it points to the need for differing intervention programmes across regions. Notably, the study found that the association between justification of IPV and actual experience of it is bi-directional and suggests caution in making causal inferences.

Spatial distribution and predictors of intimate partner violence among women in Nigeria

BackgroundGlobally, intimate partner violence is one of the major health problems women face every day. Its consequences are enormous. However, our search of the available literature revealed that no study had examined the spatial distribution of intimate partner violence and the predictors of intimate partner violence among women in Nigeria using current nationally representative data. This study, therefore, sought to examine the spatial distribution of intimate partner violence and its predictors among women in Nigeria.MethodWe sourced data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey for this study. A sample size of 8,968 women was considered for this study. We employed both multilevel and spatial analyses to ascertain the factors associated with intimate partner violence and its spatial clustering.ResultsThe hot spot areas for intimate partner violence in Nigeria were Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Plateau, Kogi, Edo, Ebonyi, and Rivers. The likelihood of experiencing intimate partner violence among women in Nigeria was high among women with primary education, those that were previously married, women currently working, women who were Yoruba, women with parity of four and above and women who were exposed to mass media while low odds of intimate partner violence was reported among women who were Muslims. Women who resided in the North East region and those who lived in communities with medium socioeconomic status were more likely to experience intimate partner violence, while women who were within the richest wealth index and those residing in the South West region were less likely to experience intimate partner violence.ConclusionThe study found regional variations in the prevalence of intimate partner violence among women in Nigeria. Therefore, policymakers should focus their attention on the hotspots for intimate partner violence in the country. There is also the need to consider the factors identified in this study to reduce intimate partner violence among women in Nigeria. Empowering women would yield a significant improvement in the fight against gender-based violence.

Traumatic bonding in victims of intimate partner violence is intensified via empathy

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an increasingly prevalent problem in most parts of the world including sub-Saharan Africa. However, little is known about the bonding patterns of IPV victims who decide to remain with the perpetrator despite the molestation. This study investigated the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between partner molestation and traumatic bonding among victims of IPV in Nigeria. Participants were 345 women purposively selected from female clients who visited the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SART) Awka, Anambra State ( n = 145) and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Lagos ( n = 200). Their age ranged from 18-61 years (M=35.79; SD=8.6 years). They responded to the Composite Abuse Scale, the Basic Empathy Scale, and the Stockholm Syndrome Scale. Results of data analysis using the Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro showed that partner molestation was not significantly associated with traumatic bonding. Affective and cognitive components of empathy were positively associated with increased traumatic bonding. Estimates of indirect effects indicated that affective empathy and cognitive empathy served as pathways through which IPV was linked to dimensions of traumatic bonding. Empathy may engender tendencies that increase the likelihood for traumatic bonding. Findings highlight the dynamics of empathy in building and sustaining traumatic bonding in victims of IPV.

The Silent Pandemic: Increased Initimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

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.

Optimization of the Role of Social Worker Service Units in Legal Protection Effort against Children in Contact with the Law

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.

Innovative methods to analyse the impact of gender norms on adolescent health using global health survey data

BackgroundUnderstanding how gender norms affect health is an important entry point into designing programs and policies to change norms and improve gender equality and health. However, it is rare for global health datasets to include questions on gender norms, especially questions that go beyond measuring gender-related attitudes, thus limiting gender analysis. MethodsWe developed five case studies using health survey data from six countries to demonstrate approaches to defining and operationalising proxy measures and analytic approaches to investigating how gender norms can affect health. Key findings, strengths and limitations of our norms proxies and methodological choices are summarised. FindingsCase studies revealed links between gender norms and multiple adolescent health outcomes. Proxys for norms were derived from data on attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours, as well as differences between attitudes and behaviours. Data were cross-sectional, longitudinal, census- and social network-based. Analytic methods were diverse. We found that gender norms affect: 1) Intimate partner violence in Nigeria; 2) Unhealthy weight control behaviours in Brazil and South Africa; 3) HIV status in Zambia; 4) Health and social mobility in the US; and 5) Childbirth in Honduras. InterpretationResearchers can use existing global health survey data to examine pathways through which gender norms affect health by generating proxies for gender norms. While direct measures of gender norms can greatly improve the understanding of how gender affects health, proxy measures for norms can be designed for the specific health-related outcome and normative context, for instance by either aggregating behaviours or attitudes or quantifying the difference (dissonance) between them. These norm proxies enable evaluations of the influence of gender norms on health and insights into possible reference groups and sanctions for non-compliers, thus informing programmes and policies to shape norms and improve health.

Occupational Prestige and Women’s Experience of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

ABSTRACT One-in-four women in Nigeria has experienced some type of spousal violence in her life. The present study uses relative occupational positions of women as a proxy for bargaining power and examines it as a potential risk (or protective) factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) in Nigeria, a perspective unexplored by the existing literature. Using the nationally representative 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey NDHS and a multinomial logit regression model, the study examines the association between occupations and IPV. It finds that women in less prestigious occupations have greater odds for experiencing violence. Additionally, women have greater odds of abuse if partners are engaged in more prestigious occupations. The paper extends the analysis by assessing the association between relative spousal occupational prestige and IPV. Findings indicate that women in similar and more prestigious occupations than their male partners have greater odds of experiencing violence. Policy recommendations follow from the results. HIGHLIGHTS Status inconsistencies and women’s resource possession provoke intimate partner violence. Any move toward status equality is a risk factor for women’s experience of abuse. Policies that promote counseling for women working in less prestigious occupations may provide a support system. An increase in legislation that criminalizes domestic violence in Nigeria is needed.

A Study of 2 Samuel 13:1–22 as a Solution to Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

With particular reference to women abuse, this article examines how the Tamar rape narrative can be employed as a solution to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Nigeria. Applying the text in this way, Tamar’s action of mentioning her experience encourages victims of sexual abuse to voice their ordeal as this would expose their assailants and serve as a deterrent to intending abusers. The role of David as a parent and family head reminds every father to aspire to be a good example to his sons as regards attitude to women; it also points to the need to re-awaken those African virtues of old which restricted sex to marriage. In the Nigerian context, the role of David as the custodian of the law relates to the fact that the relevant IPV laws should be updated and adequately applied. A proper investigation of Amnon might reveal that, apart from his family background which might influence his behaviour, he might also be under the influence of certain situational and individual factors.

Reading 1 Corinthians 7:10–11 in the context of intimate partner violence in Nigeria

In Nigeria, most of the mainline churches forbid divorce and remarriage, and one of the passages most popularly quoted in support of this doctrine is 1 Corinthians 7:10–11. The traditional interpretation teaches that marriage is ‘for better, for worse’ and should be between one man and one woman for life. In view of the fact that this mode of interpretation is capable of enhancing the already high rate of domestic violence, this work examines the text in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Nigeria. Applying the analytical and exegetical methods, the essay investigates the possible correlation between the doctrine of no divorce and IPV. The research found that when understood against its specific context, 1 Corinthians 7:10–11 permits divorce and remarriage on grounds of adultery, and allows a deserted Christian spouse to remarry. It can also be deduced from the chapter that when IPV poses threat to life, divorce may be the appropriate response, and the affected spouses are free to remarry. In this way, a proper understanding of the passage can go a long way to reducing the rate of domestic violence in Nigeria. It is noteworthy, however, that the overall intent of the text is to protect marriage as a permanent institution, hence even when divorce has taken place, the church and concerned couples should still seek reconciliation.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The work employs the analytical approach for the investigation of the correlation between the doctrine of no divorce and IPV, and the exegetical method to the study of 1 Corinthians 7:10–11 and other related texts.

Polygynous Unions and Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria: An Examination of the Role of Selection

AbstractObjective: This article explores the association between polygyny and intimate partner violence (IPV) in Nigeria, with attention to selection into polygyny.Background: Although IPV occurs within the social context of a family, the linkages between polygyny and IPV are rarely interrogated, and there is little attempt to differentiate between “polygyny effects” and “selection effects.”Method: This article uses a sample of 19,189 couples from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey to conduct (a) a multivariate analysis of the characteristics that predict selection into polygyny, (b) a propensity score matching analysis of the association between polygyny and IPV, and (c) a Rosenbaum bounds analysis to assess hidden bias that might affect both selection into polygyny and IPV.Results: People who entered polygynous unions were different on observed characteristics—including relative status of husbands and wives coming into the union, education, religion, and ethnicity—than those who entered monogamous unions. Polygyny was associated with higher probabilities of women's reports of recent physical and emotional IPV, net of observed differences; however, a Rosenbaum bounds analysis indicated that it was highly plausible unobserved selectivity into polygyny helped account for these associations.Conclusion: It is important to move beyond viewing polygyny as a “risk factor” for IPV and toward understanding how selection into marriage is an important social process with implications for IPV, health, and well‐being.

Regional Variations and Determinants of Physical Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

Background: In spite of the need to prevent and mitigate varying occurrences of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) in different regions of the country, regional determinants of physical IPV in Nigeria have remain unexplored. The study, therefore, examines the regional variations of the prevalence and determinants of physical intimate partner violence in Nigeria. Method: Data was from the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey of Nigeria, which was conducted in all 36 states of Nigeria, and Abuja. A composite index of physical intimate partner violence was used as the outcome variable. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, mapping, and binary logistic regression. Results: On National level, 16.25% of respondents had experienced physical IPV while regional variations in physical IPV was found across the regions with South-South having the highest prevalence (27.10%). The most significant determinants of physical intimate partner violence at the national level, and across the regions were shown to be: high level of alcohol intake by some husbands, increase in the number of co-wives, increased parity, wealth index, and low levels of women education. Conclusion: This study recommends sensitization of the public on the negative consequences of excessive alcohol intake, and practice of polygamy, on physical IPV.

Is Women's Tendency to Negotiate Safer Sex Another Opportunity for Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria?

Husband's controlling and domineering attitudes have been shown to contribute to women's intimate partner violence experience in Nigeria. Some scholars have suggested that women's safer sex negotiation may create additional opportunity for incurring partner violence. The purpose of the current study was to test the possibility that married women's tendency to negotiate safer sex would contribute significant additional proportions of the variance in their experience of physical, sexual, and emotional violence. Using nationally representative data from a sample of married women in Nigeria (N = 19,360), three separate hierarchical regression analyses were performed to examine the contributions of husband's controlling and domineering attitudes and tendency to negotiate safer sex to the three types of violence experience. Regression analyses revealed that women whose husbands endorsed more controlling and domineering attitudes experienced more physical, sexual, and emotional violence. Furthermore, women with higher tendency to negotiate safer sex experienced more of all the forms of violence. After accounting for the influence of husband's controlling and domineering attitudes, regression analyses revealed that women's tendency to negotiate safer sex accounted for significant additional contributions of the variance in physical, sexual, and emotional violence experience. The additional contributions suggest that specific interventions may be needed for improving women's negotiation skills to reduce husband perpetrated violence risk.

Male Partners’ Socio-demographic Characteristics, Attitude and Behaviours as Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria – Evidence from National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2013

Male Partners’ Socio-demographic Characteristics, Attitude and Behaviours as Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria – Evidence from National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2013