A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE, ATTITUDES AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AGAIANST WOMEN IN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES IN URBAN ABUJA

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE, ATTITUDES AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AGAIANST WOMEN IN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES IN URBAN ABUJA

Abstract

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a topical and major public health and human rights concern globally. Until recently IPV has received very little attention in terms of research and actions to address the health and socioeconomic impacts of it especially in developing countries and the military is perceived to be a high risk population.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the prevalence, attitudes, and factors associated with intimate partner violence against women and how victims cope with this problem in military and civilian communities.
Methodology: This study was a community-based, cross sectional survey with both quantitative and qualitative components. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 238 respondents from military and civilian communities in urban Abuja. WHO standard questionnaire on
women’s health and domestic violence was used for quantitative data collection. and data analysis was done using SPSS statistical package. Qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) and thematic analysis was done to bring out key issues.
Results: Majority of the respondents in both military and civilian populations were within the reproductive age group with mean ages of 30+ 10.8 and 38.0 + 10.6 respectively. Most of the women from the military barracks were of lower socioeconomic status compared to those from the civilian population. Female intimate partners of Military personnel were at a higher risk of experiencing all forms of violence. Prevalence of physical violence of 5.9% and 19.7%, emotional violence of 13.4% and 42.4%, controlling behaviour of 29.1% and 37.1% and sexual violence of 8.8% and 9.2% were reported among civilian and military respondents respectively.
Seventy-two (55.4%) of female partners of military personnel justified wife beating for various reasons compared to 24 (22.2%) of civilians (p = 0.000). Major risk factors associated with the experience of IPV included low socioeconomic status of respondents, frequent quarrels in relationship, male partner’s physical aggression, use of hard drugs and alcohol consumption by male intimate partner. The strongest predictors of ever experienced IPV included respondents socio-economic status (OR = 5.5, 95% CI = 4.3-24.3, P = 0.024), consumption of alcohol by male partner (OR = 5.8, 95% CI = 2.56 – 13.98, p = 0.000) and relationships where quarrelling was very often (OR= 29.71, 95% CI=29.71, P=0.002)..
Majority of the victims in both populations sought help mainly from the informal sector (families, friends), followed by the semi-formal (religious leaders/traditional rulers, etc). The formal sectors (Health facilities and legal system) were least patronised. Thematic analysis of the
FGD showed above other findings that respondents perceived IPV as having negative health impact on victims and their children, even the unborn child. Key informant interview showed that there are no specific existing laws to punish IPV perpetrators and even what is available in the penal law is not being enforced by appropriate authorities.
Conclusions: This study shows that IPV is a public health problem in urban Abuja; comparatively the military population is clearly at a higher risk than the civilian population. Under-reporting was very likely as was elucidated from the FGDs and this may be due to the stigma which is still attached to reporting intimate partner violence in our society and fear of negative impact of reporting on male spouse’s career among the military respondents.
Recommendations: Findings from this study call for action in the areas of health education for behavioural change among men and women, advocacy for increased sensitization, Military IPV policy and programs for women empowerment. Adolescents/youths targeted programs for primary prevention of IPV and sensitization of the health and judiciary systems to be more proactive and responsive to cases of intimate partner violence.

Title Page———i

Certification——–ii

Dedication———iii

Acknowledgement——-iv

Abstract ———vi

Table of Content——–vii

 

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction ——-1

1.1 Statement of Problem——4

1.2 Purpose of the Study——5

1.3 Significance of Study——8

1.4 Limitation——–9

1.5 Scope of Study——-11

 

Chapter Two

2.0 Review of Related Literature —-12

2.6 Summary of Literature Review—- 19

 

Chapter Three

3.0 Research Methodology and Procedure—22

3.1 Population ——–22

3.2 Sample and Sampling Technique—-22

3.3 Validation of the Instrument —-23

3.4 Reliability of the Instrument —–23

3.5 Data Analysis——-23

 

Chapter Four

4.0 Presentation and Discussion of Result—24

4.1 Analysis and interpretaion of Data—25

4.2 Discussion of Results——38

 

Chapter Five

5.0. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation  –40

5.1 Summary——–40

5.2 Conclusion——–41

5.3 Recommendation——42

References ———45

Appendix 1——–47

Appendix ———50

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE, ATTITUDES AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AGAIANST WOMEN IN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES IN URBAN ABUJA

Sharing is caring!