Prevalence and factors associated with domestic violence amongst married women in urban and rural areas of Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Domestic violence against women, in its various forms, remains endemic in communities and countries globally and is coupled with contributing marital disharmonies, adverse health outcomes on the victims, their children, immediate families and the community. The study assessed and compared prevalence and factors associated with DV amongst married women in urban and rural areas of Kano, Nigeria. Using a comparative cross-sectional study design, 493 married women were studied. Multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents and data collected using an adapted structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Analysis was done using SPSS vs 25. The overall prevalence of DV was 23%; of which less than a quarter of the urban (17%) and over three quarters of the rural (83%) married women experienced at least one form of DV. Most reported forms in the urban vs rural were: verbal abuse (in form of humiliation, insults and threatening to attack) 15% vs 83%; physical abuse (in form of push, slap, and arm twisting) 6% vs 28%. Older age (women > 45 years) [p=0.00, AOR=0.228, 95% CI=0.096-0.539], and husband’s non-smoking habit [p=0.00, AOR=0.226, 95% CI=0.110-0.467] were protective for the experience of domestic violence. DV was prevalent among married women particularly among those living in the rural area and the younger women. Women whose husbands engaged in smoking were more at risk. Efforts should be made to provide education and support for vulnerable women exposed to DV.