DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND RELIGIOUS VARIATIONS AMONG MARRIED WOMEN IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Ignatius O. Nwimo, Stella Maris Ngozi Anyanwu, Aloysius Munachim Ohaja, Chukwuemeka O. O. Aletta, Kenneth Nnachetam Nwafor, Chijioke Vitalus Iloke, Raphael E. Ochiaka, Ivoke Mariajacinta Ukamaka, Patrick Eni Eluu, Christian O. Aleke

Abstract


Domestic violence among married women is a significant public health concern. However, despite global efforts to combat the menace, it remains pervasive in many communities in Nigeria. This study investigates domestic violence and religious variations among married women in imo state. The descriptive cross-sectional analytical design was applied. A total of 400 women were recruited for the study. The participants were recruited using a multistage sampling procedure, while a semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using frequency counts and percentages to address the research questions, while hypotheses were tested at p<0.05 using Chi-square. Findings show that domestic abuse was prevalent across both groups, with 42.2% of Christian women and 47.4% of non-Christian women reporting having experienced domestic violence. This analysis suggests that while there are slight differences in the reported prevalence between Christian and non-Christian women, domestic violence remains a significant concern among married women in the district, regardless of their religious affiliation. The study recommends that local government bodies and educational institutions implement community-based educational initiatives targeting young married women aged 15-24. This programme should focus on raising awareness about domestic violence and women's rights, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and resources to seek help and support.

Keywords


domestic violence, religious variations, married women, Imo state

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adam, V.Y. & Erhus, E. (2022). One-year prevalence of domestic violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban community in Southern Nigeria. Journal of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, 34(1) 117-130. https://doi.org/10.4314/jcmphc.v34i1.8

Ellison, C.G., Bartkowski, J.P., & Anderson, K.L. (1999). Are There Religious Variations in Domestic Violence? Journal of Family Issues, 20(1), 87-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/019251399020001005

Gonçalves, J.P.B., Lucchetti G., Maraldi E.O., Fernandez P.E.L., Menezes P.R., Vallada H. (2023). The role of religiosity and spirituality in interpersonal violence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Braz J Psychiatry. 2023 May 11;45(2):162-181. PMID: 36331229; PMCID: PMC10154014. https://doi.org/10.47626/1516-4446-2022-2832

Istratii, R., & Ali, P. (2023). A Scoping Review on the Role of Religion in the Experience of IPV and Faith-Based Responses in Community and Counseling Settings. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 51(2), 141-173. https://doi.org/10.1177/00916471221143440

Lagos DSVA (2026). Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency DSVA. Lagos Records 8,692 Sexual and Domestic Violence Cases in One Year – Lagos DSVA

Lanchimba C., Díaz-Sánchez J.P., Velasco F. (2023). Exploring factors influencing domestic violence: a comprehensive study on intrafamily dynamics. Front Psychiatry, 7;14:1243558. PMID: 37743993; PMCID: PMC10513418. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1243558

Nakie G., Tadesse G., Fentahun S., Rtbey G., Andualem F., Kibralew G., Kelebie M., Melkam M., Tinsae T., Kassa M.A., Alemayehu T.T., Yigezu M., Tsegaw T.K., Segon T., Wassie Y.A. (2019). Domestic violence and its determinants among reproductive-age women in Sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of 2019-2024 demographic and health survey data. BMC Public Health. 2025 Jul 2;25(1):2288. PMID: 40604804; PMCID: PMC12220315. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23544-z

Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Nigeria Labour Force Statistics Report. Abuja Nigeria. NBS 2023; Q2 2023. Retrieved from https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary/read/1241561

Onaseso, F. (2025). Cultural and religious beliefs as a double-edged sword in domestic violence experiences and responses: a case study from Nigeria. Published on July 31st, 2025. Accessed on August 10th, 2026. Retrieved from https://idvrm.org/evidence/cultural-and-religious-beliefs-as-a-double-edged-sword-in-domestic-violence-experiences-and-responses-a-case-study-from-nigeria/

Pepper, M., Powell, R., & McEwan, T. (2023). The Impact of Marriage Norms and Gender on Anglican Clergy Actions in Response to Domestic Violence. Religions, 14(6), 730. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14060730

Sambo MN, Jibril MB, Sulaiman H. (2023). Perception and Experience of Domestic Violence among Women in a Rural Community in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Niger Med J. Jul 2;64(3):314-326. PMID: 38974069; PMCID: PMC11223021. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11223021/

Ugwu, A. & Atima, M. (2022). Breaking the Silence on Domestic Violence in Nigeria: We Must All Be Advocates, Nigeria Health Watch. Retrieved from https://nigeriahealthwatch.com/articles/thought-leadership/breaking-the-silence-on-domestic-violence-in-nigeria-we-must-all-be-advocates/

WHO (2026). Violence against women. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women

Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) (2023). Fact sheet on sexual and gender-based Violence in Lagos, Nigeria. Ireti Resource Centre, located in Ikotun, Alimosho LGA

World Health Organization WHO (2010). Violence against women prevalence estimates, global, regional and national prevalence estimates for intimate partner violence against women and global and regional prevalence estimates for non-partner sexual violence against women

World health Organization, (2021). Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates 2018. Global, Regional and National Prevalence Estimates for Intimate Partner Violence against Women and Global and Regional Prevalence Estimates for Non-partner Sexual Violence against Women. WHO, Geneva.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v9i3.278

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Ignatius O. Nwimo, Stella Maris Ngozi Anyanwu, Aloysius Munachim Ohaja, Chukwuemeka O. O. Aletta, Kenneth Nnachetam Nwafor, Chijioke Vitalus Iloke, Raphael E. Ochiaka, Ivoke Mariajacinta Ukamaka, Patrick Eni Eluu, Christian O. Aleke

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2019 - 2026. European Journal of Public Health Studies (ISSN 2668-1056/ISSN-L 2668-1056) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library. All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and standards formulated by Budapest Open Access Initiative (2002), the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing (2003) and Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities (2003) and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Copyrights of the published research works are retained by authors.