Prevalence, pattern and determinants of domestic violence among ante-natal clinic attendees in a secondary health facility in Benin City, Edo State

Abstract

Background: Domestic Violence is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of people. The abuse of women has serious ramifications because of its implications on their sexual and reproductive health as well as their overall well being and that of their households.

Objective: To assess the prevalence, patterns and determinants of domestic violence among antenatal attendees in Central Hospital, Benin City, Edo state.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among antenatal attendees selected using systematic sampling technique. Pre-tested structured, interviewer administered questionnaire patterned after the WHO multi-country study questionnaire was the tool for data collection. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20.0 software. Bivariate analysis between socio-demographic variables and presence of domestic violence was done. Binary logistic regression was also done to determine significant predictors of domestic violence. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Four hundred antenatal attendees with mean age of 29.8 ± 4.4 years participated in the study. The prevalence of domestic violence among the respondents in the past 1 year was 53.3% and of these, 55.4% experienced it in the current pregnancy. A higher proportion of respondents (41.5%) suffered physical violence followed by those who suffered sexual violence (34.0%) and emotional violence (31.3%). There was no significant association between socio demographic variables of the respondents and the experience of domestic violence.

Conclusion: Prevalence of domestic violence in the studied group was high. Implementation of programmes geared towards the prevention and elimination of domestic violence is advocated.

Keywords: Prevalence, Domestic violence, Benin City, Ante-natal