Prevalence, Knowledge and Perception of Domestic Violence among Women Attending Antenatal Care at Baraudikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria

Download Article

DOI: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.04.04.Art031

Authors : Patricial Idoko

Abstract:

In early Roman Society, a woman was deemed the property of the husband and was therefore subject to his control.

The Catholic Church’s endorsement of “the Rules of marriage” in the 15th century exhorted the husband to stand as ‘judge of his wife. He was, to beat her with a stick upon her commission of an offense. According to the rules, beating showed a concern for the wife’s soul.

In 18th century France, if it became public that a wife had beaten the husband, he was forced to wear an outlandish costume and ride backwards around the village on a dnkey.

It was not until the 1870s that the first states in the US banned a man’s right to beat his family.

Violence against women, whether pregnant or not occurs commonly around the world especially the developing world. The act cuts across all ages, cultures, ethnicity religion and educational barriers.

Domestic violence refers to any harmful behaviour directed at women or girls because of their sex it is also known as gender based violence.

The violence can take various forms, and could be physical, psychological, (emotional) sexual, economic or a combination or even neglect. It can also be in the form of threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or private life. A new dimension has been added now in the form of acid baths used by men especially to discipline women, girls.

The prevalence of domestic violence against women ranged between 17-37% with considerable regional variation. Domestic violence can broadly be classified into domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV), elder mistreatment.

Domestic violence or spousal Abuse in this content is a form of violence against women and when it involves pregnant women, it calls for a closer attention because of the greater danger it entails. Both the world health organization WHO and international federation of obstetricians and gynecologists (FIGO) recognize the scourge of violence against women and starting train the nineties passed various declarations on the elimination of violence against women. The factors which lead to domestic violence are a legion and range from no offence, minor to major offences.

Most countries and various religions from against domestic violence but because the cultures of the people of these countries do not frown at it, the problem has persisted it hence explains the attitude of the women to domestic violence with some even justifying it. Domestic violence may start or escalate with pregnancy.

Domestic violence is not caused by illness, gentiles, or gender, alcohol or other drugs, anger, stress victim’s behaviour or relationship problems, it is a learned behaviour by batterers, and it has enormous impact on pregnant women. It is a recognized public health issue that has serious consequences on physical and mental health. Domestic violence has been associated with psychiatric illnesses, depress, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorderattempted suicide and also important implications for the fetus as low birth weight, miscarriages, a bleeding, prematurity, abruption, or even death of either or both fetus and mother.

There is paucity of data on domestic evidence mainly because of under reporting by the victims, but quite sequent.

References:

[1] Bacchus L. Bewley S. Gillian M. Domestic violence and pregnancy, obstetrics and gynecology 2001; 3; 56-59.

[2] Catalano; R:LindRosenblat, A and R Novaco (2008) Research into the economic antecedents of violence. American Journal of Community Psychology.

[3] CDC (2006). Intimate Partner violence, Salt Sheet. Retrieved Oct. 2008 from www.cdo.gov/.

[4] Ending violence against women in population report volumes xxvii No 4 December, 1999.

[5] Gyuse AN et al, Nigerian Journal of medicine 2009 Oct-December. Prevalence of Domestic violence among antenatal women attending a Nigerian Mission Hospital

[6] Jina R, Jewkes R. Christofodes N, loots L Caring for survivors of sexual assault and Rapoe in South Africa. 1st Edition, 2008.

[7] Little K. J. Screening for Domestic violence; identifying, assisting and empowering adult victims of abuse. Postgraduate medicine 2000 108: 1,4-9

[8] Obi S. N. and Ozinba (2007) factors associated injury with domestic violence in South East Nigeria. Journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[9] Pierre Martin Hirsch, British Journal of gynecology deputy Editor in chief

[10] Rakel R. P. Rakel D P (eds): Rakel textbook of family medicine; 7th edition, Souners.

[11] Saror S. F. Spousal abuse; a study in Samaru Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria breaking the Silence in women against violence. Proceedings of the tenth anniversary of women in Nigeria Conference 1993; 70-73.

[12] T T Wopkoma, M. Jampala, H Bexhell, R Sutbn’e S Lindar A comparative study of the prevalence of domestic violence in women requesting a termination of pregnancy and those attending the antenatal clinic BJOG 2014.

[13] Unicef (2005) violence at home (achieve) voices of youth forum. Retrieved Oct. 2008 from http.//www.unicef.org/roy/discussions/archive/index.

[14] Unicef 2001.children and women’s rights in Nigeria. A wakeup call. Situations assessment and analysis. Edited by Hodege Abuja: National Population Commission and unicef.

[15] Violence against women during pregnancy systematized revision. Science Direct May-August 2014 vol.29 (2) pages 71-79.