Acceptance of screening for intimate partner violence, actual screening and satisfaction with care amongst female clients visiting a health facility in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare providers have advocated for the screening and management of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) against women and its consequences. Unfortunately, data from high income countries suggest that women may have varied preferences for being screened for IPV in healthcare. Although women's preference for screening in sub-Saharan countries has not been well researched, IPV remains an accepted societal norm in many of these countries, including Nigeria.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to assess women's acceptance of screening for IPV in healthcare, the extent to which inquiry about IPV was carried out in healthcare and whether such inquiry impacted on satisfaction with care.MethodData on these variables were gathered through structured interviews from a sample of 507 women at a regional hospital in Kano, Nigeria. The study design was cross-sectional.ResultsThe results found acceptance for screening in the sample to be high (76%), but few women (7%) had actually been probed about violence in their contact with care providers. Acceptance for screening was associated with being married and being employed. Actual screening was associated with ethnicity and religion, where ethnic and religious majorities were more likely to be screened. Finally, being screened for IPV seemed to improve satisfaction with care.SignificanceThe findings demonstrate the need for adaptation of a screening protocol that is also sensitive to detect IPV amongst all ethnic and religious groups. The findings also have implications for further education of socio-economically disadvantaged women on the benefits of screening.

Men′s perspectives on intimate partner abuse in an urban community in North-Western Nigeria

“…For example, while one study did not find a significant association between the time that IPA started and the length of marriage, [8] another study found the length of marriage to be a significant determinant. [19] In this study, only a slight difference was observed between the proportion that started IPA less than 2 years after marriage and those who did so two or more years after.…”

“…In addition, introducing the routine screening of antenatal care attendees for IPA could help in early identification of women at risk of complications, thereby improving pregnancy outcome, an intervention which most of the women in a similar community were found to have accepted. [8] Finally, it is not clear why the prevalence of economic abuse was relatively low, despite the high proportion of the men admitting having abused their wife because of her poor economic status. Thus, future studies on IPA in such communities should include qualitative methods, to explore the contextual reasons that could explain such paradox.…”

“…Studies done among women in Nigeria have reported high prevalence of IPA. For example, separate hospital-based studies among pregnant women have reported prevalence of 13.6% in a South-Eastern [3] and 28% in a North-Western [8] community. Among other women, it was 29% in Lagos, [9] 37.4% in Abuja, [10] and 20% in a migrant South-Western community.…”

Improving care for victims of violence in resource-poor settings such as Lusaka, Zambia: results of a low-budget intervention

“…Four parameters were chosen to measure the project's success because they were validated in previous studies and were determined to be the best for assessment in this study design 8 9. The outcomes were obtained via direct interviews with patient/client and staff using two different questionnaires.…”

Legal duties, professional obligations or notional guidelines? Screening, treatment and referral of domestic violence cases in primary health care settings in South Africa

“…The acceptability of screening has also been found amongst women in a study conducted in Nigeria. 44 …”