Intimate partner violence among young women in Ibadan, Nigeria: are there slum and non-slum differences?

This study determined the past-year prevalence of physical, sexual and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) and associated factors among young women in urban slums and non-slums of Ibadan, Nigeria.A cross-sectional study, using a multistage cluster sampling method was used to select 1050 ever-partnered young women aged between 18 and 24 years from the five Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ibadan municipal. All localities were classified into slums and non-slums using the UN-Habitat 2003 criterion. Independent variables were respondents' and partners' characteristics. Dependent variables were physical, sexual and psychological IPV. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model (α0.05).Prevalence of physical (31.4%, 13.4%), sexual (37.1%, 18.3%), and psychological IPV (58.6%, 31.5%) were significantly higher in the slum than non-slum communities. Multivariate analysis showed that secondary education (aOR:0.45, 95%CI: 0.21 - 0.92) reduced IPV experience while being unmarried (aOR:2.83, 95%CI: 1.28 - 6.26), partner's alcohol use (aOR:1.97, 95%CI: 1.22 - 3.18), and partner's relationship with other women (aOR:1.79, 95%CI: 1.10 -2.91) increased IPV experience in slum communities. In non-slum communities, having children (aOR:2.99, 95%CI: 1.05-8.51), non-consensual sexual debut (aOR: 1.88, 95%CI: 1.07-3.31) and witness of abuse in childhood (aOR:1.82: 95%CI: 1.01 - 3.28) increased experience of IPV. Acceptance of IPV and partner's witness of abuse in childhood increased experience of IPV in both settings.This study confirms that IPV is common among young women in Ibadan, Nigeria, but higher among women in slum communities. Findings also showed different factors associated with IPV in slum and non-slum communities. Therefore, targeted interventions for each urban stratum are recommended.

Home was not a safe haven: women's experiences of intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Emergency situations, including epidemics, increase incidence of violence against women, especially intimate partner violence (IPV). This paper describes specific scenarios of IPV reported by women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria to provide insight for policy and programmatic efforts. METHODS: This paper draws on seven de-identified case reports from organisations serving women experiencing IPV as well as media coverage of IPV cases in Nigeria, between April and May, 2020. RESULTS: In most cases, reports identified IPV that was occurring prior to the lockdown, but increased in severity or involved new types of violence during the lockdown. The case scenarios included descriptions of many forms of IPV commonly reported, including physical, economic, psychological and sexual violence, often concurrently. Several women also reported threats of being thrown out of their homes by perpetrators, which threatens women's ability to protect themselves from exposure to COVID-19, but could also leave women stranded with no access to transportation, social services, or other resources during the lockdown. Several women also reported IPV that involved custody of children, as well as IPV that disrupted women's income generation. IPV was also reported in relation to economic stressors associated with the lockdown. Reports highlight how the lockdown disrupted women's social support, hindering accessibility of formal and informal sources of help. CONCLUSION: The lockdowns in Nigeria may have inadvertently placed women already experiencing partner violence at risk for experiencing more severe violence, new challenges to cope with violent experiences, and other forms of violence, including violence that used the lockdown as a way to threaten women's security and ability to protect themselves from the virus. Hence, there is need for innovative approaches to support victims, with emphasis on ways in which perpetrators of IPV may be using the threat of COVID-19 to further gain power and control over partners.

Relationship dynamics with male partners among girls in low-income communities of Ibadan, Nigeria: Risk for violence and health related consequences.

INTRODUCTION: This study explored the motivations for and relationship dynamics that may promote girls' vulnerability for intimate partner violence and sources of support reported in unhealthy relationships among girls residing in low-income communities in Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS: Focus group discussions (n = 14; 122 girls) were conducted among girls aged 15-19 years, who reported having been in a relationship lasting at least 3 months. Girls were recruited from schools and worksites where partner violence has been reported in high proportions. Data were analysed using conceptual content analyses and independently coded by two researchers. RESULTS: Adolescent girls reported keeping their relationships secret from their parents. While girls reported that sometimes relationships were out of love, relationships were also often motivated by girls' financial need. The financial and secretive nature of these relationships appeared to place girls at risk for intimate partner violence, with sexual coercion, resulting in multiple adverse social and health outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Girls reported that leaving an abusive relationship is especially difficult when girls rely financially, were sexually involved, pregnant, or have had a child with the male partner. Friends/peers, rather than girls' family, were often the source of support for intimate partner violence. CONCLUSION: Early identification of unhealthy relationships and supporting girls to be financially independent appear to be critical to reduce vulnerability to violence. Peer-based interventions may be most appropriate, given that girls' friends, rather than parents, were most often the source of support for intimate partner violence and other relationship challenges.

Intimate partner violence among unmarried young women (18-24 years) in urban communities, Ibadan, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health problem that affects more than one-third of women globally. Young women who experience IPV face the same consequences as older women. Previous studies on IPV have not studies young women exclusively, thus, we aimed to report the prevalence of IPV and predictors among young women in Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional survey, using multistage cluster technique was conducted to determine the past-year prevalence of IPV among unmarried young women (n=736) from 20 communities in five Local Government Areas in Ibadan, Nigeria. The independent variables were respondents and their partners' background information. Dependent variables were experience of physical, sexual, psychological and any IPV. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression (α0.05). RESULTS: Psychological IPV was the most prevalent form of IPV (50.1 %). Prevalence of any IPV was 56.3 %. At the bivariate level, having children, acceptance of IPV, ever had sex, age at first sex, experience at sexual debut, partners being with other women while being with the respondents, partners alcohol use, and partners witness of abuse as a child were significantly associated with IPV. However, only acceptance of IPV, experience at sexual debut, and partners being with other women while being with the respondents remained significant at the multivariate level. CONCLUSIONS: IPV is a common occurrence among young women. Both individual and partners characteristics, especially acceptance of IPV contribute significantly to experience of IPV among young women. Hence, interventions targeted at reduction of IPV acceptance will greatly reduce the prevalence of IPV.

Prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Lautech teaching hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.

Background: We assessed the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients attending Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State Nigeria. Methods and materials: A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted among 143 type-2 DM patients in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥140 and or diastolic BP ≥90. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and binary logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 56.2 ±15.79 years. Hypertension was common (32.1%) among type-2 DM participants. Respondents aged 45-64 years (OR= 5.96, 95%CI= 1.60 - 19.12) had the likelihood of being hypertensive. Type-2 DM patients who were not in union (AOR=6.64, 95%CI=1.79 - 24.52) were more likely to be hypertensive. The likelihood of hypertension was lower (AOR= 0.28, 95%CI=0.11 - 0.66) among participants who engaged in moderate physical activity compared to those who engaged in low physical activity. Conclusion: This study identified the age group 45-64 years, not being in a union and engagement in low physical activity as associated factors for hypertension among Diabetes Mellitus participants. Hypertension prevention/treatment should be considered in type-2 Diabetes Mellitus routine treatment.

Money, Power, and Relationships: Economic Vulnerability in Girls' Lives and Risk for Partner Violence Among Girls in Ibadan, Nigeria.

This study explored the experience of economic vulnerability and its effect on girls' future aspirations, relationships, and financial reliance on male partners, as well as risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) and related health consequences. Thirteen Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted among 122 female adolescents aged 15-19 years. Participants reported that lack of economic resources limits girls' ability to be economically independent by reducing opportunities to receive education or enter into a trade. Economic vulnerability decreases girls' ability to become economically independent, increasing financial reliance on male partners, and in turn, increasing risk for IPV, sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy.