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

Abstract

Anecdotal records have shown that there is increasing prevalence of gender based violence in Nigeria. Little is known about the extent and magnitude of this phenomenon as it affects pregnant women. This study described the experiences of violence among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics in Abuja, Nigeria using a crosssectional design. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 participants from six hospitals in the three out of the six Local Government Areas in the region. Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Forty three percent of the respondents had experienced at least one form of violence and 15.0% were experiencing violence in their current relationships. Main forms of violence ever experienced were psychological (38.0%) and physical (36.4%). Partners/husbands (70.2%) and partner/husband relatives (29.8) were the perpetrators. Of the partner/husband's relatives, sisters-in-law (57.1%) and partners' cousins (21.5%) were the main perpetrators of the forms of violence experienced. Strategies employed to resolve violence conflict included dialogue with spouse (46.7%), ignoring the experience (30.3%), making up with sex (16.7%), providing gifts and special dishes (5.0%) and mediation by family members (1.3%). Health promotion and education intervention strategies such as counselling, male involvement in sexual and reproductive health programs, advocacy for the promotion of women's health and right as well as use of appropriate culturally sensitive conflict resolution strategies are needed to ameliorate the situation.

Gender-Based Violence among Pregnant Women Consulting at the Antenatal Care Unit of the Bamenda Regional Hospital

“…Psychological violence Psychological violence was the most common type of violence in our study, with a prevalence of 47.2%. This finding is similar to the findings of the studies done by Makayoto et al in Kenya [10] of 29%, the WHO multi-country study [12] by Idoko et al in Gambia [14] of 60% and by Oyedunni et al in Nigeria of 38.0% [5]. The higher prevalence of Idoko et al [14] could be explained by the high verbal forms of intimate partner violence, which were the commonest forms.…”

“…The prevalence of GBV The prevalence of GBV reported in this study was 56.3% which is close to the prevalence of 43% reported by Oyedunni et al [5] in Abuja, Nigeria, and that of 61% of intimate violence reported by Idoko et al [14] in Gambia but higher than the 37% reported by Makayoto et al in Kenya [10]. Our prevalence is lower than the 91.1% prevalence reported by Samjhana et al in Nepal [17] who included aspects of verbal and economic violence that are not included in the WHO-adapted questionnaire used in our study.…”

“…xiety provoked by violence during pregnancy may reduce women's ability to obtain nutrition, rest, exercise, and medical care [5]. This is the reason why the WHO recommends the clinical evaluation of partner violence during prenatal consultations to reach the objective of a positive pregnancy experience for all women.…”

Prevalence of Gender Based Violence Amongst Pregnant Women Accessing Ante-Natal Care in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka

“…Physical abuse was reported to be a frequent occurrence by 44.7% of respondents. Perpetrators of various violence experienced were partners/husbands (70.2%) and partners'/husbands' relations (29.8%) [5].…”

“…To assess the relationship of the perpetrator to the women accessing antenatal care in COOUTH, Amaku, Awka. 5. To access the response and reactions of the violated women accessing antenatal care in COOUTH, Amaku Awka.…”