Perpetration and Experience of Intimate Partner Violence Among Residents in Bariga Local Community Development Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The occurrence of aggressive behavior in intimate relationships carries serious mental and physical health consequences for the victims and children exposed to such events. Studies have been devoted toward understanding the nature and prevalence of the phenomenon; however, there has been a paucity of empirical investigation into the complexities and nuances of the subject matter, and this study seeks to address one of such complexities. This study examines the dynamics of intimate partner violence (IPV) within the context of perpetration and victimization among residents in Bariga Local Community Development Area in Lagos State, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey, 218 married residents of the area were analyzed through bivariate and multivariate regression analysis. The results of the study revealed that gender and socioeconomic factors were not associated with IPV victimization. Educational differences between the respondent and spouse were associated with IPV victimization. Individuals who perpetrated IPV were about 19 times more likely to experience IPV. This study sheds light on the areas of IPV that tend to be ignored in academic literature and it calls for more empirical investigation, both at the quantitative and qualitative levels, to be conducted for better understanding of the subject matter.