Multi-level predictors of young people’s attitudes towards gender biases concerning rape, sexual and domestic violence in intimate relationships among young people, Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria

Ifunanya C. Agu, Irene I. Eze, Chibuike I. Agu, Ozioma Agu, Chinyere O. Mbachu, Obinna Onwujekwe

Abstract

This study assessed multi-level factors that shape young people's attitudes towards gender biases about rape, sexual, and domestic violence in intimate relationships. This cross-sectional study was undertaken in three urban and three rural communities in Ebonyi State, southeast Nigeria. Data were collected from 1,020 young people using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed using STATA. Findings revealed that most(64%) young people agree that when a girl doesn’t physically fight back, you cannot really say it was rape. Many agreed that a girl who is raped is promiscuous or has a bad reputation (50%) and usually did something careless to put herself in that situation(45%). Young girls were approximately 2 times more likely to have positive attitudes towards sexual violence, rape, and domestic violence in intimate relationships than young boys (OR=1.5;P<0.01). Multi-level strategies to effectively address adverse gender norms and inequalities in intimate relationships are highly recommended.

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