The prevalence and pattern of intimate partner violence among women attending general outpatient clinic of federal medical Centre, Keffi

Background: Intimate partner violence has globally been recognized as a public health problem that has serious adverse effects on the victim, the family and the society at large. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of intimate partner violence among women and the association with sociodemographic characteristics at the General Outpatient Clinic of Federal Medical Centre Keffi. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 342 women, carried out between May 14th to July 7th, 2020. Data was obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 27. Results: The prevalence of intimate partner violence was 75.4%. Out of the 258 women with intimate partner violence, emotional violence was the most common form experienced by 180 (69.8%) of the participants. Eighty-eight (34.1%) experienced sexual violence alone and 74 (28.7%) experienced physical violence alone. Sixty-one (23.6%) of them experienced all three forms of intimate partner violence (emotional, physical and sexual violence). Conclusions: The prevalence of intimate partner violence found among women in this study was high and commonest form of intimate partner violence was emotional violence, followed by sexual violence and physical violence.

Gender-based violence in a rural Nigerian community during the COVID-19 era: a call for policy action

Introduction: gender-based violence (GBV) is a global pandemic which is deeply rooted in culture, hence the need to contextually understand its occurrence and patterns in rural settings. The objective of this study assessed respondents´ attitude, prevalence, the perceived risk factors, patterns and predictors of GBV in Ife-Odan, Osun State, Nigeria. Methods: cross-sectional study design was used and multi-stage sampling method employed to recruit 450 consenting adults. A pretested interviewer-administered, semistructured questionnaire was used for data collection. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out. Results: mean age (±SD) of the respondents was 30.73±7.0, 58.7% of them were females and 88.0% had negative attitude to GBV. Prevalence of any form of GBV was 16.2%. Predominant GBV types included intimate partner violence (IPV) (58.3%), female genital mutilation (FGM) (31.1%), Sexual violence (6.9%) and incest (3.4%). Perceived risk factors of GBV included cultural acceptance, substance abuse, lack of punishments for GBV offenders, indecent female dressing styles, social media influences, effects of COVID-19 lockdown and male dominance. However, gender (AOR=7.82; 95%CI=2.35-8.17), marital status (AOR=3.23;95%CI=1.82-3.78), religion (AOR=5.02;95%CI=1.78-9.63) and attitude (AOR=4.23; 95%CI=2.267-5.82) were the significant predictors of past GBV experiences in the study setting. Conclusion: gender-based violence (GBV) is prevalent in the study setting, with IPV being the most common. There is need for policymakers to focus on cultural transformation by designing a robust awareness campaign against GBV in rural Nigerian communities. Traditional and religious leaders should be sensitized and involved in the campaign programs using all available channels of communication. Laws prohibiting perpetration of GBV need to be fully implemented.

Prevalence and pattern of intimate partner violence among men and women in Edo State, Southern Nigeria

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a growing concern in Nigeria and globally. Although women are at greater risk of IPV, men are also affected, but this is less reported. Aim: This study sought to determine the prevalence and pattern of IPV among the respondents and to compare the pattern of IPV among the male and female respondents. Setting: The study was conducted in six towns (local government headquarters) across the three senatorial districts in Edo State, Southern Nigeria. Methods: The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, community-based study. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 1227 respondents from Edo State, Southern Nigeria. A semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and the Extended Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream (E-HITS) tool were used to collect data, which were analysed with Epi Info version 7.1.2.0. Results: The study found an IPV prevalence of 37.7% among the respondents (confidence interval [CI]: 95%, odds ratio [OR]: 0.169­0.294). The mean age was 38 ± 12 and respondents were mostly female (725, 59.1%), married (770, 62.8%) and unemployed (406, S33.1%), with a tertiary level of education (766, 62.4%). Intimate partner violence was significantly higher among women compared with men (95% CI: 4.474, OR: 3.425­5.846). The pattern of IPV showed a lower OR between sexual and physical IPV (95% CI: 0.276, OR: 0.157­0.485). There was a higher likelihood of IPV among married women (95% CI: 1.737, OR: 1.279­2.358). Conclusion: There is a need to improve the socio-economic status of the Nigerian populace, especially women. Healthy, nonviolent and safe relationships should be promoted in communities by signalling what is socially unacceptable and strengthening sanctions against perpetrators.

Associations between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and the experience of violence among women and girls living with and at risk of HIV in Nigeria

Aim: Women and girls living with and at high risk of HIV (WGL&RHIV) had an increased risk for gender-based violence (GBV) during COVID-19. The study aimed to assess the associations between vaccine hesitancy and GBV, HIV status and psychological distress among these vulnerable women and girls in Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from WGL&RHIV in 10 states in Nigeria between June and October 2021. The dependent variable was vaccine hesitancy. The independent variables were the experience of physical, sexual, economic and emotional GBV, HIV status and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a multivariable logistics regression analysis to test the associations between vaccine hesitancy and the independent variables and covariates. Results: Among the 3 431 participants, 1 015 (22.8%) were not willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Not knowing or willing to disclose HIV status (aOR 1.40) and having mild (aOR 1.36) and moderate (aOR 1.38) symptoms of anxiety and depression were significantly associated with higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. Being a survivor of intimate partner physical violence (aOR 5.76), non-intimate partner sexual violence (aOR 3.41), as well as emotional abuse (aOR 1.55) were significantly associated with respectively more than five, three and one and half times higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. One positive outcome is that HIV-positive women and girls appeared to be more likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine when available. Conclusions: Sexual and gender-based violence, low socio-economic status, psychological distress and an unknown HIV status are essential determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among vulnerable women and girls in Nigeria. National authorities and civil society organisations need to better integrate COVID-19 mitigation activities with HIV and gender-based violence interventions through a more feminist approach that promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity for better access to health services.

The association between intimate partner violence, psychiatric morbidity amongst pregnant women and partner alcohol use in southern Nigeria

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is common, although prevalence and correlates amongst pregnant women in developing countries are poorly researched. Aim: To identify the magnitude of IPV, and its relationship with psychiatric morbidity and partner alcohol use. Setting: This study was conducted among women receiving routine ante-natal care at a secondary level healthcare facility in southern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted by recruiting pregnant women (n = 395) attending the Ante-Natal Clinic of the Central Hospital, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria, between August 2015 and February 2016 and undertaking face-to-face interviews utilising a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Composite Abuse Scale and the 20-item Self-reporting Questionnaire. Results: Past 12-month prevalence of IPV was 24.8%, with emotional abuse being the commonest type (89.8%). Forty-six participants (11.6%) screened positive for probable psychiatric morbidity. Predictors of IPV included partner alcohol use in the past 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16­6.16; p < 0.02), having a psychiatric morbidity (aOR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.27­5.04; p < 0.01), being single (aOR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.25­3.58; p < 0.01) and multiparous (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.43­4.38; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Intimate partner violence was common amongst pregnant women in Nigeria. Identified modifiable risk factors can be targets for screening and intervention for women in these settings

Intimate partner violence during the confinement period of the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring the French and Cameroonian public health policies

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an unprecedented pandemic. COVID-19 is a highly contagious and potentially fatal respiratory infection which has spread within three months of its outbreak to more than 173 countries, causing 3.7 million infections and 256,551 deaths at this writing. Unfortunately, no treatment or vaccine currently exists for COVID-19, although several clinical trials are on-going to find a definite solution to this pandemic. Prevention through public health measures remain the best strategy recommended till date. This prevention involves physical distancing and compulsory confinement at home in several European countries, in the UK and USA. Unfortunately, home confinement decreed in most high-income countries like France has been dangerous for women, victims of psychological, physical and sexual violence from their intimate partner. Violence between intimate partners has become an unintended consequence of the stay-at-home policy against COVID-19. Since the promulgation of a home confinement decreed in many high resource settings (USA, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, etc), the rate of violence between intimate partners has increased tremendously resulting to the worst scenario, women's death in some of these countries. The stay-at-home law is not yet a national decree in several low resource settings like Africa, where COVID-19 has not been declared an epidemic in several countries. However, intimate partner violence has been reportedly described as a real violation of women's right before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent. This commentary highlights the effects of intimate partner violence due to COVID-19 confinement in France and extrapolates what may be the effect of an implementation of a COVID-19 confinement law in Cameroon. Also, the authors suggest recommendations to lessen the burden of intimate partner violence in countries with a stay-at-home policy

Prevalence, pattern and determinants of dating violence among young persons in Benin City, Edo State

Background: Dating violence (DV) and its negative effects are a present public health issue of concern. The study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence, pattern and determinants of DV among young persons in Benin City. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Benin City, Edo State among young persons aged 15-24years. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The data was obtained from a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire adapted from WHO multi-country survey on domestic violence. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 22.0. The level of significance was p < 0.05. Results: A total of 750 respondents with mean age 20.65 ± 2.01 years participated in the study. The lifetime and one-year prevalence of DV was 396 (52.3%) and 354 (47.2%), respectively. A higher proportion of respondents suffered psychological violence with the lifetime and one-year prevalence of 339 (45.2%) and 294 (39.2%), respectively. Significant determinants of DV were age (p = 0.009), aggressive behavior (p = 0.005) and risky sexual behavior (p = 0.001) Conclusion: The prevalence of DV was high among the respondents. Preventive DV interventions such as health education and peer counselling for this age group is advocated

Prevalence, pattern and determinants of dating violence among young persons in Benin City, Edo State

Background: Dating violence (DV) and its negative effects are a present public health issue of concern. The study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence, pattern and determinants of DV among young persons in Benin City. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Benin City, Edo State among young persons aged 15-24years. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The data was obtained from a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire adapted from WHO multi-country survey on domestic violence. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 22.0. The level of significance was p < 0.05. Results: A total of 750 respondents with mean age 20.65 ± 2.01 years participated in the study. The lifetime and one-year prevalence of DV was 396 (52.3%) and 354 (47.2%), respectively. A higher proportion of respondents suffered psychological violence with the lifetime and one-year prevalence of 339 (45.2%) and 294 (39.2%), respectively. Significant determinants of DV were age (p = 0.009), aggressive behavior (p = 0.005) and risky sexual behavior (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of DV was high among the respondents. Preventive DV interventions such as health education and peer counselling for this age group is advocated

Intimate partner violence and human immunodeficiency virus infection among married women in Addis Ababa

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus is a public health problem in sub-Saharan countries, with complex determinant factors. Intimate partner violence, although known to associate with acquiring human immunodeficiency virus understanding how it relates to sexual risk behaviors is important.Objective: To assess the relationship of human immunodeficiency virus with intimate partner violence as related to risky-sexual behaviors.Methods: A facility based case control study was conducted among human immunodeficiency virus positive and negative women visiting antenatal care. A total of 128 positive and 382 negative women from the prevention service of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus in selected health facilities in Addis Ababa were included. A standardized and pretested questionnaire was used to assess the experience of intimate partner violence, and sexual behaviors of women and their spouses.Result: Physical violence during lifetime is associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection status. Besides, sexual violence by strangers is associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Risky sexual behaviors, represented by having multiple partners, transactional sex and having a casual partner, were associated with intimate partner violence as well as human immunodeficiency virus infection status. Similarly, report of experiencing symptoms of sexually transmitted infection and having suspected unfaithful spouse were associated with intimate partner violence and human immunodeficiency virus infection status.Conclusion: The study showed that intimate partner violence could be associated directly and in directly with human immunodeficiency virus infection by increasing exposure to risky sexual behaviors and considered as a resolution for disparate sexual behavioral. Therefore, prevention and control interventions against intimate partner violence could play significant role in prevention and control of human immunodeficiency virus infection

Sexual and physical intimate partner violence among women using antenatal care in Nampula, Mozambique

The aim was to estimate the prevalence of sexual and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and its associated factors, in a sample of pregnant women using antenatal care (ANC) in Nampula province - Mozambique. This cross-sectional study was carried out in six health units in Nampula, from February 2013 to January 2014. Overall, 869 participants answered the Conflict Tactics Scale 2. The lifetime and past year prevalence of sexual abuse was 49% and 46%, and of physical abuse was 46% and 44%, respectively. Lifetime and past year sexual abuse was significantly associated with living as a couple, alcohol drinking and having a past diagnosis of gonorrhea. Lifetime and past year physical abuse increased significantly with age and was associated with living as a couple, alcohol drinking and history with syphilis. The prevalence of lifetime and previous year violence among women using ANC was high and similar showing that most women were constantly exposed to IPV. ANC provides a window of opportunity for identifying and acting on violence against women

The influence of adolescent age at first union on physical intimate partner violence and fertility in Uganda: a path analysis

Background. Uganda has a high fertility rate, high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) and also very young ages at first union. Experiencing IPV has previously been shown to increase fertility rates. Entering marriage at a later age has been shown to decrease fertility rates in some countries. Given that a large proportion of Ugandan women are married by the end of adolescence, marital age may be a key proximate determinant of fertility in Uganda. Objective. To examine the effect of age at first union on fertility, via the intermediate effect of physical IPV, among Ugandan women of reproductive age. Methods. Data from the 2011 Ugandan Demographic and Health Survey were used to create an integrated path model to investigate the effects of age at first union on fertility. Known factors that influence fertility were included in the model. The interaction with age at first union in increasing fertility differentials, via the intermediate effect of physical IPV, was assessed. Results. Results show that women who are preadolescent or adolescent at first union have a higher likelihood of experiencing IPV, indicated by both direct and indirect pathways that work via known intermediate and proximate factors. Furthermore, age at first union increases fertility, expressed as the number of children born to a woman, via a direct interaction. Conclusion. Most Ugandan women enter their first union during adolescence (<19 years), which exposes them to a higher risk of IPV and a longer period of childbearing, thereby increasing fertility rates

Love matters: exploring conceptions of love in Rwanda and Swaziland and relationship to HIV and intimate partner violence

Health risks such as intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV infection often occur within intimate sexual relationships, yet the study of love and intimacy is largely absent from health research on African populations. This study explores how women and men in Rwanda and Swaziland understand and represent love in their intimate sexual partnerships. In Rwanda, 58 in-depth interviews with 15 couples, 12 interviews with activists, and 24 focus group discussions were carried out during formative and evaluative research of the Indashyikirwa programme, which aims to reduce IPV and support healthy couple relationships. In Swaziland, 117 in-depth, life-course interviews with 14 women and 14 men focused on understanding intimate sexual partnerships. We analysed these qualitative data thematically using a Grounded Theory approach. Participants described love as being foundational to their intimate sexual partnerships. Women and men emphasised that love is seen and expressed through actions and tangible evidence such as gifts and material support, acts of service, showing intentions for marriage, sexual faithfulness, and spending time together. Some participants expressed ambivalent narratives regarding love, gifts, and money, acknowledging that they desired partners who demonstrated love through material support while implying that true love should be untainted by desires for wealth. IPV characterised many relationships and was perceived as a threat to love, even as love was seen as a potential antidote to IPV. Careful scholarship of love is critical to better understand protective and risk factors for HIV and IPV and for interventions that seek to ameliorate these risks

Intimate partner violence among women of child bearing age in Alimosho LGA of Lagos State, Nigeria

In this study, the extent to which married women had experienced physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence by their intimate partners was determined. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional. It was conducted in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured, interviewer-assisted questionnaire from married women. The questionnaire explored demographic characteristics, experience of physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence from their spouses, the perceived reasons for these acts and their health seeking behaviour. The respondents were selected through a systematic random technique from all the eight districts of the LGA. Of the 704 women contacted, 606 consented to participate in the study (response rate 86%). The ages of women ranged from 22 ­ 49 years with a mean of 35.9years (±6.48). Majority of the respondents were Yoruba 452 (74.6%) whose main occupation was trading 309 (51%). One hundred and sixty-one (26.6%) had secondary school education. Five hundred and thirty-nine (88.9%) had experience at least one form of violence. The prevalence of physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence were 45.9%, 55.9%, 71.1% and 51.2% respectively. The most common forms of violent behaviours experienced by the women were slaps (41.9%), insistence on having sex (33.3%), verbal insults (41.3%) and not providing money for the needs of the family (38.4%). Full time housewives, women without formal education, women in polygamous marriages and women whose husbands drank alcohol were more likely than others to have experienced at least one form of violent behaviour. The most common perceived reason for physical, psychological and economic forms of violence were argument about money 37.4%, 32.9% and 27.1% respectively and refusal to have sex 34.2%. The proportions of women who had experienced physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence but did not seek outside help were 59.0%, 62.2%, 67.5% and 73.5% respectively. In conclusion, a high proportion of women surveyed had suffered from different kinds of violence and only few sought for help. Interventions including providing conflict resolution skills training and referral to agencies were recommended to address these problems

Intimate Partner Violence at a Tertiary Institution

Background. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is actual or threatened physical; sexual; psychological; emotional or stalking abuse by an intimate partner. Despite the high prevalence of IPV in South Africa (SA); there is a paucity of data on university students training in fields where they are likely to have to manage the after-effects of such events in their personal capacity in the future. Objectives. To ascertain the prevalence of IPV in an SA tertiary institution population with a diverse demographic profile.Methods. Students from the faculty of health sciences and the faculty of humanities; social work department; completed an anonymous questionnaire. Students were made aware of psychological counselling available to them.Results. Responses were obtained from 1 354 of 1 593 students (85.0%) (67.8% female; 45.9% black; 32.7% white; 16.6% Indian; 4.8% coloured). Of the respondents; 53.0% indicated that they were in a relationship. The prevalence of any type of IPV (sexual; physical or emotional abuse) among all respondents was 42.6%. Emotional abuse was reported by 54.9% of respondents; physical abuse by 20.0% and sexual abuse by 8.9%. Thirty-five females (6.5% of respondents who had suffered IPV) indicated that they had been emotionally; physically and sexually abused. Fourteen percent identified themselves as perpetrators of abuse; but only three perpetrators of sexual abuse reported having also been victims of sexual abuse. Most respondents (58.7%) knew where to get help.Conclusion. The extent of IPV among the medical and social work students sampled was found to be unacceptably high; both as victims and as perpetrators. As a result of their exposure to IPV; these individuals may have difficulty in managing patients who have been subjected to abuse

Intimate partner violence in early adolescence:the role of gender; socioeconomic factors and the school

BACKGROUND:Intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescents is common worldwide; but our understanding of perpetration; gender differences and the role of social-ecological factors remains limited.OBJECTIVES:To explore the prevalence of physical and sexual IPV perpetration and victimisation by gender; and associated risk and protective factors.METHODS:Young adolescents (N=2 839) from 41 randomly selected public high schools in the Western Cape region of South Africa (SA); participating in the PREPARE study; completed a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS:The participants' mean age was 13.65 years (standard deviation 1.01); with 19.1% (541/2 839) reporting being victims/survivors of IPV and 13.0% (370/2 839) reporting perpetrating IPV. Girls were less likely to report being a victim/survivor of physical IPV (odds ratio (OR) 0.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57 - 0.92) and less likely to be a perpetrator of sexual IPV than boys (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.21 - 0.52). Factors associated with perpetration of physical and sexual IPV were similar and included being a victim/survivor (physical IPV: OR 12.42; 95% CI 8.89 - 17.36; sexual IPV: OR 20.76; 95% CI 11.67 - 36.93); being older (physical IPV: OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.08 - 1.47; sexual IPV: OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.14 - 1.62 ); having lower scores on school connectedness (physical IPV: OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.46 - 0.75; sexual IPV: OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.42 - 0.76) and scoring lower on feelings of school safety (physical IPV: OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.57 - 0.77; sexual IPV: OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.40 - 0.62).CONCLUSIONS:Physical and sexual IPV was commonly reported among young adolescents in SA. Further qualitative exploration of the role of reciprocal violence by gender is needed; and the role of 'school climate'-related factors should be taken into account when developing preventive interventions