Prevalence and pattern of domestic violence against pregnant Nigerian women

Abstract

Five hundred and twenty-two pregnant Nigerians attending the antenatal clinic in two private hospitals in Lagos between January and June 2003 were interviewed using a structured questionnaire about their experiences of domestic violence. One hundred and four women declined to participate; a response rate of 80.1% was obtained. Analysis of the completed questionnaire by 418 respondents showed that 197 (47.1%) women reported a history of abuse. Of the 197 women who reported abuse, 23 (11.7%) experienced abuse for the first time during the current pregnancy, 97 (49.2%) experienced abuse prior to and during the current pregnancy and in the remaining 77 (39.1%) abuse predate the current pregnancy. A total of 120 (28.7%) women experienced some form of abuse during current pregnancy. Although all social and ethnic groups were involved, no association could be established between prevalence and pattern of abuse and sociodemographic characteristics. Verbal abuse was the most common type of abuse reported (52.3%), followed by economic deprivation (30%), physical abuse (25%), threat of violence (10.8%) and forced sex in 14.2%. The perpetrators of the abuse were husband and boyfriend (78.7%), in-laws (31.5%) and other relations (6.1%). The majority of abused women (99.0%) were not ready to report the abuse to the police. In conclusion, domestic violence is common in our environment and health-care providers should be alert to the clues in order to protect the women from further abuse.

Domestic Violence against Women during Pregnancy: The Case of Palestinian Refugees Attending an Antenatal Clinic in Lebanon

“…47 However, the association between educational level and DV was not significant in some studies conducted in Leon, Nicaragua, and Chinese communities. 17,38,48 This study also found a strongly significant association of undesired pregnancy, specifically by the husband, and violence during pregnancy. Considerable literature supports this association.…”

Experiences of Violence among Pregnant Women Attending Ante-Natal Clinics in Selected Hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria

“…Findings from a Nigerian study carried out in the southwest documented a prevalence of 47.1% among pregnant women examined with 11.7% occurring in their current state of pregnancy (Ezechi et al, 2004). A later study carried in the same region of the country reported a 14.2% prevalence of violence among pregnant women attending antenatal services twelve months prior to current pregnancy and 2.3% reported violence in current pregnancy (Fawole et al, 2008).…”

Domestic violence during pregnancy reported by women attending a university teaching hospital in Nigeria for antenatal care

“…Research has shown that it occurs in every society, but with varying prevalence [1,2]. In Nigeria, the prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy varies across different regions and the highest figure has been reported for Lagos [3]. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy as reported by women attending a university teaching hospital in Nigeria to book for antenatal care, and to assess the types of and risk factors for domestic violence.…”

“…The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. The questionnaire had been pretested with 50 antenatal patients-who were not included in the analysis-for clarity, assessment of length of time for administration, comprehension, and other attributes.The sample size was calculated based on the average prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy determined from studies in different regions of the country [3,4]. Information was obtained about the participants' sociodemographic characteristics and questions were asked to assess their awareness, experience, and attitude toward domestic violence, as well as the presence of possible risk factors for domestic violence in pregnancy.…”

“…The sample size was calculated based on the average prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy determined from studies in different regions of the country [3,4]. Information was obtained about the participants' sociodemographic characteristics and questions were asked to assess their awareness, experience, and attitude toward domestic violence, as well as the presence of possible risk factors for domestic violence in pregnancy.…”