Prevalence Of Domestic Violence During Pregnancy In Oleh, A Suburban Isoko Community, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Domestic violence against pregnant women exposes victims to higher risk of pregnancy complications. The aim of this questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence, knowledge and perception of domestic violence amongst 400 consecutive pregnant women attending the ante-natal clinic of Central Hospital, Oleh. The mean age of the respondents was 28 ± 4.3 years (Range 15 -44years) and, 82% of them attained at least secondary school education. Three hundred and sixty eight (92%) showed complete knowledge of domestic violence. A total of 144 (36%) of the women had experienced domestic violence during pregnancy. Domestic violence experienced were in the forms of verbal (58%), physical (31%) and sexual (11%) abuses. The husband was the commonest offender (92%). Some of the women felt domestic violence in pregnancy was always (12%) or under certain conditions (25%) excusable; and 77% of them would keep domestic violence in pregnancy secret. It is recommended that public awareness, about the inherent dangers associated with this act should be improved.

Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy: Knowledge and Experiences of Pregnant Women and Controlling Behavior of Male Partners in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria

“…This high level of awareness observed is not surprising because this study also revealed that up to 99% of the respondents had good knowledge of IPV. Studies conducted in Delta State and Abuja, Nigeria, also made similar observations [31,32].…”

The Prevalence of Domestic Violence Among Pregnant Women in Nigeria: A Systematic Review

“…Y= Yes N=No CI=Confidence Interval 201136.4 13.2 38 Awusi et al (2009) 31 11 58 12.4 _ _ Ameh et al (2009) N/S N/S N/S N/S N/S N/S Gyuse et al (2009) 26.5 10.7 --38.0 Efetie and Salami, 2007 23.4 10.2 66.4 Fawole et al (2008) 8 Ezechi et al (2004) 18.9 8.6 18.3 52.3 6.6 Ashimi and Amole (2015) 50.9 66.7 68.5 Umeora et al (2008) 39.8 26.5 _ 26.5 48.5 29.4 Fawole et al (2010) N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C Ansari et al (2015) Cross-River 22.3 _ _ _ _ _ Bauchi 9 _ _ _ _ _ Onoh et al (2013) 13.4 46.0 8.4 18.9 2.1 Note: N/C= Not Clear. N/S=Not Stated.…”

“…Fawole, Abass, & A.O. Fawole, 2010; Iliyasu, Abubakar, Galadanci, Hayatu, & Aliyu, 2013) and 11 months (Awusi, Okeleke, & Ayanwu, 2009). Different tools were used to assess DV in the reviewed studies such as the Conflict Tactics Scale (Iliyasu et al, 2013), Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey tools (Ashimi & Amole, 2015; Iliyasu et al, 2013), Modified Version of Health-Care Providers Domestic Violence Questionnaire (Abasiubong et al, 2010), and Abuse Assessment Screen (Gyuse, Ushie, & Etukidem, 2009).…”

“…Fifteen studies were cross-sectional studies while two (Ezechi et al, 2004;Abasiubong et al, 2010) did not clearly state the study design used. The duration of the studies ranged between one month (Adesina et al, 2011;Envuladu et al, 2012;Fawole et al, 2010;Iliyasu et al, 2013) and eleven months (Awusi et al, 2009).…”

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

“…15.7% would report to the doctor while others would report to the in-law, police, clergy or tell a close friend [21]. In a similar study done in Delta, some of the women felt violence in pregnancy was always (12%) or under certain conditions (25%) excusable and 77% of them keep it secret [22].…”