Augustine V UMOH, Gabriel Mathias ABAH, Wilson E UGEGE, Emmanuel C INYANGETOH

[Prevalence and Attitude of Women to Spousal Physical Abuse in Pregnancy in a Niger Delta Community of Nigeria]

AMAÇ: Gebelikte eş kaynaklı fiziksel şiddet temel bir halk sağlığı ve insan hakları sorunudur. Bunun sıklığını belirlemek ve bizim çevremizde kadınların bu olguya karşı tutumunu anlamak, etkin müdahale stratejilerini geliştirmede anahtar role sahiptir. YÖNTEM: Bu araştırma, Nijerya'nın Nijer Deltası bölgesinde Uyo Üniversitesi Eğitim Hastanesinin antenatal kliniğine devam eden gebe kadınlar arasında yapılmış kesitsel bir çalışmadır. Bilgiler ön denemesi yapılmış ve kendi kendine uygulanan soru formu ile toplanmıştır. BULGULAR: Katılımcıların ortalama yaşı 28,72 ± 4,47 idi ve yaşları 16 - 48 arasında dağılmıştı. Mevcut gebelikteki eş kaynaklı fiziksel şiddet %10,3 idi. %73,7'si mevcut ve önceki gebeliklerde eş kaynaklı şiddet bildirirken, mevcut gebelikte eş şiddeti görenlerin %45,2'si önceki gebeliklerinde de eşlerinden fiziksel şiddet görmüşlerdi. Eş şiddeti ile doğum/gebelik sayısı (x2 = 16.145, p=0.025), medeni hali (x2=11.105, p=0.025) ve kocanın mesleği (x2=12.786, p=0.047) arasında ilişki vardı. Katılımcıların %22,7'si yarısı eş şiddetinin bazım koşullarda bağışlanabileceğini ifade ederken, yaklaşık yarısı hiçbir koşul altında bağışlanamayacağı görüşünü ifade etti. Ayrıca, mevcut gebeliği sırasında fiziksel şiddet gören kadınların %50,0'ı fiziksel şiddetin bağışlanabileceği görüşünü ifade etti. Kadınların çoğunluğu (%65,8) şiddeti sır olarak sakladıklarını ve hiçbir şey yapmadıklarını bildirdi. Hiçbir vaka polise bildirilmedi. SONUÇ: Eşin fiziksel şiddeti ile Nijerya toplumunda hala sık karşılaşılmaktadır. Şiddetin eradikasyonunda kadınların işbirliğini sağlayabilmek için aydınlatılmaları ihtiyacı vardır.

Nijerya'da Nijer Deltası Toplumunda Eşin Fiziksel İstismarının Sıklığı ve Kadınların Tutumu

AIM: Spousal physical violence in pregnancy is a major public health and human rights concern. Identifying its prevalence and understanding the women's attitude towards this phenomenon in our environment is key to developing strategies for effective intervention. METHOD: This was a cross sectional study of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Information was collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire instrument. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 28.72 ± 4.47 years with a range of 16 - 48 years. The prevalence of spousal physical violence in the current pregnancy was 10.3%. 45.2% of those who experienced violence in the current pregnancy also experienced violence in other pregnancies while 73.7% of those who reported spousal violence in previous pregnancies also experienced violence in the current pregnancy. There was a significant relationship between spousal physical violence and the woman's number of deliveries/parity (x2= 16.145, p=0.025), marital status (x2=11.105, p=0.025) and husband's occupation (x2=12.786, p=0.047). About half of the respondents expressed the view that spousal violence was not excusable under any circumstance while 22.7% believed that it could be excused under certain circumstances. Also 50.0% of those who experienced physical violence in the current pregnancy expressed the view that physical violence can be excusable. Most of the women (65.8%) either kept the incidence of abuse secret or just did nothing. None reported to the police. CONCLUSION: Spousal physical abuse is still prevalent in our society. There is need to enlighten the women on this phenomenon in order to get their cooperation towards its eradication.

PDF

___

1. Garcia-Moreno C, Watts C. Violence against women: an urgent public health priority. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2011; 89: 2. Available:_http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/8 9/1/10-085217.pdf [Access Date: 09.01.2012].
2. World Health Organization (WHO). Intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Available: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2011/WHO_RHR_11. 35_eng.pdf [Access date: 09.01.2012].
3. Abama E, Kwaja MAC. Violence against women in Nigeria: how the Millennium Development Goals addresses the Challenge. The Journal of Pan African Studies. 2009; 3(3): 23-34.
4. United Nations. United Nations Millennium Declaration: Resolution A/RES/55/2, 2000; New York. United Nations, 18th September.
5. Abasiubong F, Abasiattai AM. Bassey EA, Ogunsemi OO. Demographic risk factors in Domestic violence among pregnant women in Uyo, a community in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. Health Care for Women International. 2010; 31(10): 891-901.
6. Udo A, Udofia O, Ekott M, Udoma EJ. Domestic violence against pregnant women: sociodemographic characteristics of victims. Global Journal of Community Medicine. 2008; 1(1&2): 19-23.
7. Gupta J, Silverman JG, Hemenway D, AcevedoGarcia D, Stein DJ, Williams DR. Physical violence against intimate partners and related exposures to violence among South African men. CMAJ. 2008; 179(6): 535-541.
8. Campbell JC, Abrahams N, Martin L. Perpetration of violence against intimate partners: Health care implications from global data. CMAJ. 2008; 179(6): 511-512.
9. Ali TS, Asad N, Mogren I, Krantz G. Intimate partner violence in urban Pakistan: prevalence, frequency, and risk factors. International Journal of Women's Health. 2011; 3: 105-115.
10. Okemgbo CN, Omideyi AK, Odimegwu CO. Prevalence, patterns and correlates of domestic violence in selected Igbo communities of Imo State, Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2002; 6(2): 101-114.
11. Mezey G, Bewley S. Domestic violence in pregnancy. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1997; 104: 528-531.
12. Shamu S, Abrahams N, Temmerman M, Musekiwa A, Zarowsky C. A Systematic Review of African Studies on Intimate Partner Violence against Pregnant Women: Prevalence and Risk Factors. PLoS ONE. 2011; 6(3): e17591.
13. Taillieu TL, Brownridge DA. Violence against pregnant women: Prevalence, patterns, risk factors, theories, and directions for future research. Aggression and Violent Behaviour. 2010; 15: 14-35.
14. Ezechi OC, Kalu BK, Ezechi L., Nwokoro CA, Ndububa CI, Okeke GCE. Prevalence and pattern of domestic violence against pregnant Nigerian women. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2004; 24: 652-656.
15. Fawole AO, Hunyinbo KI, Fawole OI. Prevalence of violence against pregnant women in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2008; 48: 405-414.
16. Effetie ER, Salami SA. Domestic violence on pregnant women in Abuja, Nigeria. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2007; 27(4): 379- 382.
17. Ameh N, Abdul MA. Prevalence of domestic violence amongst pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Annals of African Medicine. 2004; 3: 4-6.
18. Awusi VO, Okeleke VO, Ayanwu BE. Prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy in Oleh, a suburban Isoko community, Delta State, Nigeria. Benin Journal of Postgraduate Medicine. 2009; 11: 15-20.
19. Ezegwui HU, Ikeme HC, Onwasigwe CN. Domestic violence against pregnant Nigerian women. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2001; 20: 116-118.
20. Bailey BA. Partner violence during pregnancy: prevalence, effects, screening and management. International Journal of Women`s Health. 2010; 2: 184 - 197. Available: www.dovepress.com [Access Date: 29.12.2011].
21. Aimakhu CO, Olayemi O, Iwe CAB, et al. Current causes and management of violence against women in Nigeria. Journal of Obstetrics Gynaecology. 2004; 24(1): 58-63.
22. Sakar NN. The impact of intimate partner violence on women`s reproductive health and pregnancy outcome. Journal of Obstetrics Gynaecology. 2008; 28(3); 266-271.
23. Schoeman J, Grove D, Odendaal HJ. Are domestic violence and the excessive use of alcohol risk factors in preterm birth? Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2005; 51: 49-50.
24. Hedin LW, Janson PO. Domestic violence during pregnancy: the prevalence of physical injuries, substance use, abortions and miscarriages. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 2000; 79(8): 625-630.
25. Bacchus L, Mezey G, Bewley S. Domestic violence: Prevalence in pregnant women and associations with physical and psychological health. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology. 2004; 113(1): 6-11.
26. National Population Commission, Nigeria (2006). Nigerian population census - State population. Available:_http://www.population.gov.ng/index.p hp?option=com_content&view=article&id=89 [Access Date: 06.10.2011].
27. Israel GD. Determining sample size. Program Evaluation and Organizational Development 2009, IFAS, University of Florida. PEOD-6. April http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pd006 [Access Date: 30.07.2011].
28. Oyediran KA, Isiugo-Abanihe UC. Perceptions of Nigerian Women on Domestic Violence: evidence from 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2005; 9(2): 38-53.
29. Okereke GO. Incidence of physical spouse abuse in Nigeria: a pilot study. Research review NS. 2002; 18(2): 39-51.
30. Aimakhu CO, Olayemi OO, Adeniji AR, et al. Domestic violence: the role of the Nigerian Obstetrician. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2004; 21(1): 46-48.