THE PATTERN AND CORRELATES OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING THE GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC OF AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL, KANO, KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Intimate partner violence has been increasingly recognized as a public health problem associated
with serious medical, family and societal effects. Intimate partner violence occurs across all
populations, irrespective of social, economic, religious or cultural groups and the only variation is
in the pattern of violence in different populations. Physicians need to be aware of the patterns of
abusive behaviour that may present to them so that screening for undisclosed intimate partner
violence could form part of their routine medical consultations.
This was a cross-sectional descriptive hospital based study carried out between August and
September, 2013. The objectives were to determine the prevalence, pattern and socio-demographic
correlates of intimate partner violence among women attending the General Out Patient Clinic
(GOPC) of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano. It was also designed to determine the
pattern of health complications associated with intimate partner violence as well as the perception
of women attending the GOPC of AKTH on intimate partner violence.
Three hundred and ninety three randomly selected women aged 15-49 years who were in or had
ever been in an intimate relationship were studied. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were
used to collect data about their socio-demographic characteristics, presenting complaints and
clinical examination. Information on intimate partner violence was obtained using the Composite
Abuse Scale (CAS).
The prevalence of intimate partner violence within the previous year was 42.0%. Of all the 393
study participants, 46.6% had experienced emotional/psychological violence,
harassment/controlling behaviour was present in 43.3%, physical violence was reported in 29.0%,
sexual violence was present in 21.9% and 37.9% of the participants had experienced severe
combined abuse. Age, ethnicity, religion and level of education were not associated with intimate
partner violence. Alcohol consumption by the partner (p= 0.000), increased use of substances such
as sleeping pills by the victims of IPV (p=0.000), depression (p=0.000), miscarriage (p=0.004),
and the presence of physical injuries in the participants (p=0.024) were significantly associated
with intimate partner violence. One hundred and fifty nine (40.5%) of the participants agreed that
a husband is justified for beating or hitting his wife and neglecting the child was the reason given
by most of the participants (26.7%) to justify intimate partner violence. General and non-specific
complaints, Musculoskeletal complaints, Psychological complaints such as; depressed mood,
insomnia, anhedonia and cardiovascular complaints like palpitations were significantly commoner
among victims of IPV.
The finding of a high prevalence of intimate partner violence among women of reproductive age
in this study shows that it is an important problem and is associated with poor physical and mental
health of women who are victims. It is therefore recommended that physicians routinely screen for
IPV especially in patients with depressive symptoms, non-specific complaints, miscarriage, low
back pain and physical injuries on the face, trunk and upper limbs. Screening will be a safe and
cost effective means for identifying women experiencing IPV, leading to appropriate interventions
that will decrease further exposure to IPV and its adverse health consequences.