Perpetration and Experience of Spousal Violence Among Nigerian Women: An Analysis of the 2008 and 2013 NDHS

Abstract

Various socioeconomic and demographic factors have been known to be associated with spousal violence. The intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences of Nigerian women have been investigated from feminist and life course perspectives from previous studies. However, studies have also pointed to the complexities of victimhood with the presence of IPV perpetration. But there have been few studies on the impact of perpetration of violence on the experience of victimization, and this study seeks to address that gap in knowledge within the Nigerian context. It seeks to understand the dynamics of perpetration and the experience of spousal violence among Nigerian women across 2008 and 2013. The study analyzed the 2008 and 2013 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) data. Using binary logistic regression, the study showed that the perpetration of violence is significantly associated with a woman’s victimization experience, after controlling for socioeconomic, demographic, and abuse variables in 2008 and 2013. This study does not in any way minimize the victimization experiences of Nigerian women but simply seeks to provide data that add nuance to our understanding of spousal violence and the possible existence of bidirectional violence among Nigerian spouses.