Women at Risk of Physical Intimate Partner Violence: A Crosssectional Analysis of a Low-income Community in Southwest Nigeria

Eme T. Owoaje, Funmilola M OlaOlorun

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is prevalent in Nigeria but a culture of silence exists, making it difficult to identify women at risk. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was employed to determine the prevalence and predictors of physical IPV in a low income, high density community in south west Nigeria. Among 924 interviews of everpartnered women aged 15-49 years, prevalence of lifetime experience of physical IPV was 28.2%. The significant predictors for physical IPV were previous experience of psychological abuse (adjusted OR: 4.71; 95% CI: 3.236.85); sexual abuse (aOR: 5.18; 3.21-8.36); having attitudes supportive of IPV (aOR: 1.75; 1.2-2.4); partner’s daily alcohol consumption (aOR: 2.85; 1.50-5.41); and previous engagement in a physical fight (aOR: 3.49; 1.87-6.50).  Community based IPV prevention programmes targeted at breaking the cycle of abuse, transforming gender norms which support IPV and reducing alcohol consumption should be developed  (Afr J Reprod Health 2012; 16[1]:43-

53).  

Résumé

Femmes en danger de violence physique causée par le partenaire intime : analyse transversale d’une communauté à faible revenu au sud ouest du Nigéria. La violence causée par le partenaire intime (VCPI) est répandue au Nigéria, mais il existe une culture de silence, ce qui le rend difficile à identifier les femmes en danger.  A travers une étude descriptive transversale, nous avons déterminé la prévalence et les indices de la VCPI physique au sein d’une communauté à faible revenu ayant une densité bien élevée au sud-ouest du Nigéria.  Parmi  les 924 interviews recueillies auprès de femmes âgées de 15 à 49 ans qui ont  eu des partenaires dans le passé, la prévalence d’une expérience de vie de la VCPI était de 28,2%.  Les indices significatifs pour les VCPI étaient l’expérience antérieure de d’un abus psychologique (OR : 5,18) et  ayant des attitudes qui soutiennent la VCPI (OR : 1,75), la consommation quotidienne d’alcool par le partenaire (OR : 22,85) et l’engagement dans le passé dans un combat physique.  Il faut élaborer des programmes de prévention de la VCPI basées sur la communauté et qui cherchent à rompre le cycle d’abus, à transformer les normes des sexes qui soutiennent la VCPI et à réduire la consommation d’alcool (Afr J Reprod Health 2012; 16[1]:43-53).

 

  Keywords: Intimate partner violence, women, predictors of physical violence, urban community, south west Nigeria

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