Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Oluwasola S S Ayosanmi ¹
• John Owoade Agboola ²
• Felix Elijah ³
• Adeyemi Alaga ⁴
• Olanrewaju Adeniran ⁵
• Gloria Ifeoluwa Ogunlade ⁶
• Adeyemi Adewuyi ⁷
• Adaeze Okereke ⁸
• Esosa Daniel Omoregie ⁹
• Ayobami Ajayi ¹⁰
• Osaho David Omoregie ¹¹
• Ayomide Olusuji ¹²
• Blessing Eze ¹³

¹ University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administrative building, Saskatoon, Canada

² Department of Health Sciences and Social Works, Western Illinois University, Macomb 61455, IL, USA

³ Wyckoff Height Medical Center, 374 Stockholm St, Brooklyn, NY 11237, USA

⁴ CAIP Unit, Grand River Hospital, 835 King Street West, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4K9

⁵ University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

⁶ 6780 Fairview Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland, USA

⁷ Euracare Multispecialists Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

⁸ 14403 Pavilion Point, Houston, USA

⁹ Health Education North East of England, NHS, England

¹⁰ 265 Independence Ave, Central Business District 900103, Abuja, Nigeria

¹¹ NHS Education Scotland

¹² Troleybusna 10, Ivano Frankvisk, Ukraine

¹³ Texas Wellness and Rehabilitation Center, Grand Prairie TX, USA,

Abstract

Background: Violence against women has been reported to be high across Nigeria. However, there are no specific data on this issue across individual states in southwestern Nigeria and their correlations. This study aimed to characterize the types, prevalence, and correlates of violence against reproductive-age women in the southwestern Nigeria states, thereby establishing an inter-state comparison that could stimulate a community-based intervention.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was a secondary data analysis of the population-based 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data. The NDHS collected data from 14th August to 29th December 2018 through a stratified three-stage cluster sample design using a sampling frame containing the list of enumeration areas prepared for 2006. Responses from 1516 women aged 15-49 were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS version 25.
Results: The overall percentage of intimate partner violence (IPV) was 22% (95% CI=19.9%-24.2%) and 17% (14.7%-18.5%) for non-IPV. Oyo State had the least percentage of IPV (11%) while Lagos State had the highest (25%). Women from Ogun State had a statistically significant risk of non-IPV, such that 47% of people with non-IPV came from the state (P=0.001). The odds of IPV among women with secondary education (OR=1.78, CI=1.25-2.55; P=0.002) was more than that of women with primary education (OR=1.68, CI=1.10-2.56; P 0.016). Alcohol consumption and husband’s controlling behavior were the most important predictors of IPV across the states (P<0.001). Only 3% of the respondents reported being sexually hurt by non-partners.
Conclusion: Violence against reproductive-age women is very concerning. The current rate needs attention to reduce the ensuing risk of unintended pregnancies, suicides/self-harm, drug abuse, depression, and miscarriage. All of these will negatively impact the population’s health outcome. A community-based intervention using a socioecological model of behavioural changes is recommended.

Keywords

• Partner abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Domestic violence
• Abused women
• Emotional violence