Parental Characteristics and Experience of Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Women in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global public health problem. This study examined the influence of parental background on the experience of IPV by young women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the five Local Government Areas of Ibadan metropolis. One thousand and fifty young women aged between 18 and 24 years were selected using a multistage sampling method to participate in the study. Data was collected using a 28-item semi-structured questionnaire. The independent variables were the parents' education, marital status, occupation, and mother's experience of victimization. The dependent variable was previous experience of physical, sexual, and psychological IPV. A Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to test for association. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results: The majority of young women had experienced psychological IPV (55.0%). Two-thirds of fathers (61.4%) and mothers (62.5%) had completed at least secondary education. More than half (59.4%) of the parents were married. Parents' marital status was significantly associated with experience of sexual and psychological IPV. While the father's employment significantly increased experience of sexual IPV, the mother's employment reduced experience of sexual IPV. Abuse of respondent's mothers increased experience of psychological IPV. Conclusion: This study has provided information that parental characteristics such as father's employment and mother's experience of abuse have a significant influence on a young woman's experience of IPV. Thus, intervention programs among young women should include parents.