Intimate partner violence among women in a migrant community in southwest Nigeria

Int Q Community Health Educ. 2005;25(4):337-49. doi: 10.2190/Q6M3-0270-1284-86KU.

Abstract

This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to determine attitudes to and the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women of reproductive age in a migrant community in southwest Nigeria. All consenting females aged 15-49 years in the area sampled were interviewed. A structured questionnaire administered in the local language was used to obtain information on attitudes toward IPV in seven hypothetical situations as well as their exposure to IPV. Eighty-seven percent of women had ever experienced IPV, while 20% experienced IPV in the preceding 12 months. Regarding attitudes to IPV, 79.5% of women believed that wife beating was justified in at least one of seven situations. Respondents who were not living with a male partner were more likely than their counterparts who were married/cohabiting to accept IPV (p = 0.03). There is a need for a cultural reorientation through appropriate health education interventions.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Nigeria / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology
  • Spouse Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Transients and Migrants / psychology
  • Transients and Migrants / statistics & numerical data*