Ilika Amobi Linus
Community Medicine Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, PMB 5025, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Afr J Reprod Health. 2005 Dec;9(3):77-88.
Partner violence is a serious public health problem affecting mostly women. This qualitative study assessed the perceptions of rural Igbo women of Nigeria of intimate partner violence. Information was elicited using in-depth interviews and focus group discussion. Women of childbearing age were selected from the various women age grades in Ozubulu, Anambra State, Nigeria. Findings revealed that the women generally condone and are complacent with intimate partner violence, perceiving it as cultural and religious norms. The women felt that reprimands, beating and forced sex affecting their physical, mental and reproductive wellbeing are normal in marriage. They did not support reporting such cases to the police or divorcing the man, they would rather prefer reporting to family members. They felt that exiting the marriage would not gain the support of family members. They also expressed fear for the uncertainty in re-marrying, means of livelihood after re-marriage, social stigmatisation, and concern for their children. Socio-cultural norms and structures favour partner violence in Anambra State of Nigeria. There is a need for advocacy and concerted action that will involve the educational, health, civil and religious sectors of the society to evolve sustainable structures that will empower women and provide support to enable victims to react appropriately to violence.
亲密伴侣暴力是一个严重的公共卫生问题，主要影响女性。这项定性研究评估了尼日利亚伊博族农村妇女对亲密伴侣暴力的看法。通过深入访谈和焦点小组讨论收集信息。从尼日利亚阿南布拉州奥祖布卢的不同女性年龄组中选取育龄妇女。研究结果显示，这些女性普遍宽恕并安于亲密伴侣暴力，将其视为文化和宗教规范。这些女性认为，影响她们身心健康和生殖健康的斥责、殴打及强迫性行为在婚姻中是正常的。她们不支持向警方举报此类案件或与男方离婚，更愿意向家庭成员报告。她们觉得离开婚姻不会得到家庭成员的支持。她们还表达了对再婚不确定性、再婚后生计手段、社会污名化的担忧，以及对子女的关切。社会文化规范和结构助长了尼日利亚阿南布拉州的伴侣暴力行为。需要进行宣传并采取协调一致的行动，让社会的教育、卫生、民事和宗教部门参与进来，以建立可持续的结构，增强妇女权能并提供支持，使受害者能够对暴力做出适当反应。
