Incidence of Physical Spouse Abuse in Nigeria: a Pilot Study

Abstract

This exploratory study of the incidence of physical spouse abuse in Nigeria reveals that women are the primary victims. The study further reveals that early marriages, length of marriage, number and ages of children, size of household, amount of household income and the reluctance of the police to intervene in familial affairs affect the incidence of spouse abuse in Nigeria. Based on these findings, the author suggests that laws making all forms of domestic violence a crime be passed, victims be encouraged to take legal actions against perpetrators, and that the criminal justice system arrests, prosecutes, and punishes violators.


(Institute of African Studies Research Review: 2002 18(2): 39-52)