Intimate Partner Violence among Women of Child Bearing Age in Alimosho LGA of Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

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 and had two components – quantitative 
and qualitative. It was conducted in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State. Quantitative 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. In-depth interview was used for qualitative data collection. The 
interview was used to explore demographic variables of the victims, the inception of violence in the home, the last experience 
and the health seeking behaviours. 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.