Changes in Attitude towards Intimate Partner Violence among Ever Married Women in Nigeria: Evidence from Repeated Cross-Sectional Nationally Representative Surveys

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue X, October 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Changes in Attitude towards Intimate Partner Violence among Ever Married Women in Nigeria: Evidence from Repeated Cross-Sectional Nationally Representative Surveys

Motunrayo I. FASASI (Ph.D)¹, Matthew A. ALABI^2
1Health Centre Services, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
²Academy for Health Development (AHEAD), Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract
Purpose: This study examines changes in attitude towards IPV and associated factors among ever married women in Nigeria.
Methods: This study analysed a secondary data, the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2008, 2013 and 2018. The weighted sample size comprised of 19,349, 22,880 and 8,969women for 2008, 2013 and 2018 surveys respectively. Analysis was restricted to ever married women interviewed for the domestic violence module. Binary Logistic regression analysis was performed.
Results: Findings revealed an upward trend (20% increase) in the prevalence of IPV between the year 2008 and 2018, (30% vs. 25% vs. 36%) for the year 2008, 2013 and 2018 respectively. However, there was a downward trend in the proportion of women approving IPV (44% vs. 35% vs. 26%) for the year 2008, 2013 and 2018 respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed demographic and socioeconomic variables namely; younger age, lower educational attainment, residence in rural area, residence in northern region of the country, affiliated to Islam and traditional religion, belonging to the poorest household status and lack of autonomy consistently predicted approval of IPV.
Conclusion: The study showed an upward trend in the prevalence of IPV despite the decline in the proportion of women approving IPV, while demographic and socioeconomic factors accounts for significant variation in approval and experience of IPV in Nigeria. Hence, interventions must address socio-economic differentials.

Keywords: Ever married,IPV, attitude, autonomy, approval

INTRODUCTION

Worldwide, over one third of women are reported to have experienced one form of Domestic Violence (DV) or the other in their lifetime [1],[2]. Also, one out of every group of five women, against one out of every group of ten men were reported to have experienced sexual abuse as children. Studies on DV in Nigeria have also shown children who are subjected to sexual abuse are more likely to encounter other forms of abuse later in life [3], [4].Data from the most recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2018) indicated 36% of women between age 15 and 49 years have been a victim spousal violence in Nigeria, indicating an upward trend from 25% in 2013 [5].However, studies have associated attitude of women towards violence and how society reacts to violence with perpetration of intimate partner violence especially in a more conservative society [6], [7], [8].

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