SPECTRUM OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN NIGERIA: EXAMINING REGIONAL DISPARITIES USING A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SURVEY.

Abstract

Background: The overwhelming global burden of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is borne by women and is highly prevalent across the globe. Despite all the efforts to eliminate IPV in Nigeria, its prevalence in 2018 was 36% higher than the value recorded in 2013 (25%). Understanding the regional difference will help the Government to deploy appropriate intervention and attain the SDG targets for the elimination of violence against women and girls by the year 2030. We, therefore, examined the regional disparities across the spectrum of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Nigeria.

Methods: This research was conducted among women aged 15 to 49 years using 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey dataset. The IPV spectrum are sexual violence, emotional violence, less severe violence, and severe violence. Data were analyzed using logistic and generalized linear regression models (α_0.05).

Results: IPV prevalence was 35.9% in Nigeria, and it was higher in the South- East (48.3%) than in any other regions in Nigeria (North-Central (47.4%), North-East (47.3%), South-South (46.5%), North-West (27.0%), and South- West (19.8%)). The likelihood of sexual, emotional, and severe IPV was higher in the North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, and South-South than South-West. The common predictors across all the spectrums of IPV include region, education, husband/partner drinking alcohol, and childhood experience of parental violence.

Conclusion: The level of IPV and its spectrum is high in Nigeria, but prominent disparities existed between the regions with North-East and South-East mostly affected. We advocate for regional-specific programs that aim to mitigate IPV in Nigeria.