Socio-economic variables’ predictive abilities of domestic abuse incidence among farmers in Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

This study assessed if selected socio-economic variables of farmers in agricultural blocks of Akwa Ibom State can predict domestic abuse incidence. It described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and assessed the incidence of domestic abuse in the study area in the last one year. The study also identified farmers’ socio-economic characteristics that predict domestic abuse incidence in the study area. 120 respondents were selected from the 40 agricultural blocks in the state through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and interview schedule and analyzed using, percentages, frequency count, incidence index and binary logistic regression. Incidence index was used to estimate the incidence of domestic abuse in the study area while the binary logistic regression was used to identify which socio-economic predicted domestic abuse incidence among the respondents. Findings revealed high incidence of physical forms of abuse such as beating (0.91), wife battering (0.88), injuring (0.87), molestation (0.85), rape (0.82) and confinement (0.75) in the study area. Emotional and economic forms of abuse such as exposing a child to violence, denying family members of food, denying family members of shelter, failure to provide family members with protection from harm, controlling behaviour, restricting someone to an allowance, rigidly controlling ones finances, stealing from someone or taking one’s money etc. were also reported by the respondents with high incidences in excess of 0.7. The logistic regression model was statistically significant in predicting incidence of domestic abuse, χ² (12) = 19.967, p < .01. The model explained 49.1% of the variance in incidence of domestic abuse and correctly classified 91.3% of cases. It showed that gender, age, marital status, and level of education of the respondents reliably and significantly predict domestic abuse incidence. Rural farmers in the state, especially young couples and women farmers should be empowered through more education on fundamental human rights and domestic abuse awareness campaigns, in order for them to see themselves as important stakeholders in contributing to household income; so as to enhance their status and self worth in marriage and family life. They need more exposure and interpersonal relationship skills for conflict management both as individuals and as members of the society.

Keywords: Predictive Abilities, Socio-economic variables, Domestic Abuse, Incidence