Epidemiological Survey to Assess the Prevalence and Consequences of Domestic Violence among Married Women in Zage, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Domestic Violence refers to violence emanating from the household and within relationships defined by familial or emotional (former or present) attachment. It is the most common form of violence against women and affects women across the life span, from sex-selective abortion of female fetuses to forced suicide and abuse of older women. Domestic violence is evident to some degree in every society in the world. The main objective of the study was to assess the prevalence and consequences of domestic violence among married women. Methods: A community based crosssectional study was conducted in Zage from December, 2018 to February, 2019. Data was collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Result: From 300 respondents 45% were physically abused, among these hand and leg accounts for 65.3% and 7% had ever been harmed with sharp materials. Of all the participants 35% were sexually abused, among these 61.7% had sexual intercourse against their will two to five times per year. In this study the prevalence of psychological abuse was 95%. The study noted that nearly three in four women were experienced at least one incident of domestic violence in their lifetime. Conclusion: Alarmingly, more than three quarter of women who experienced any physical violence had severe acts that could threaten them in their lifetime. This needs an urgent attention at all levels of societal hierarchy including policymakers, stakeholders and professionals to alleviate the situation.

Intimate Partner Violence, prevalence and its consequences: a community-based study in Gambella, Ethiopia

“…Women who use at least one substance were 3.4 times more likely to be victims of intimate partner violence than those who do not use substances. This finding is in line with studies conducted in Ethiopia ( 29 , 32 ). This is similar with the effects of alcohol consumption mentioned above,.…”

“…This finding is in line with the findings of different studies conducted in Ethiopia (47%) ( 28 ) (51.7%) ( 29 ), (48.6%) ( 30 ), in Bangladeshi (53%) ( 31 ), and in Nigeria (50%) ( 32 ). On the other hand, this finding is higher than studies conducted in Ethiopia (32.5%) ( 11 ), (19.6%) ( 33 ) in sub-Saharan Africa (35.5%) ( 34 ), in Nigeria (29%) ( 35 ), in the Republic of Cyprus ( 8 , 36 ).…”

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“…Violence by intimate partners has been identified as a major cause of injury to women4. Different studies demonstrate that physical and sexual abuse of women has resulted in a wide range of negative health outcomes, such as gynecological disorders, HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, still birth, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic pain syndromes, and mental health disorders (Ellsberg et al, 2008, Loxton et al, 2006, Plichta and Falik, 2001, Romito et al, 2005. A study conducted among rape victims attending a hospital in Adigrat town, Ethiopia, found that physical and genital injuries, sexual and psychiatric problems were the common consequences of rape (Gessessew and Mesfin, 2004).…”