The 2018 Demography and Health Survey (DHS) report provides a broad picturesque of Nigeria’s gender situation. While the report indicated that appreciable changes on gender parity in the country, it also showed that much is still yet to be done. Specifically, the report revealed considerable gaps in perception of violence against women in Nigeria.
As an example, the report indicated that many women in Nigeria still experience different forms of violence. Some of these include intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and physical violence. According to the report, 31 percent of women between ages 15 and 49 have experienced physical violence. 9 percent have experienced sexual violence, and 6 percent of the women have experienced physical violence even during pregnancy.
Similarly, 36 percent of ever-married women have experienced intimate partner violence. This kind of violence involves physical, sexual, and emotional violence. 29 percent of ever-marred women who have experienced intimate partner violence sustained injuries. Injuries vary from cuts and bruises to deep wounds and other serious injuries.
Female Genital Mutilation (or female circumcision) is another form of violence experienced by Nigerian women. While the 2018 DHS report indicated a 25 percent decline in FGM from the figure in 2013, 20 percent of women age 15 to 49 were circumcised as of 2018. 86 percent of the circumcised women age 15 to 49 were circumcised before age 5, while 5 percent circumcised at age 15 or older. By ethnic group, FGM is more prevalent among Yoruba women (35 percent) and lowest among Tiv and Igala women (1 percent).
Overall, the report indicates specific areas of needs in advocacy on violence against women in Nigeria. The report also reveals the poor perception of violence among some Nigerian women. For example, the report showed that about one in five women agree that wife-beating is justified.
Some of the women were of the view that a husband can beat his wife if she argues with him, goes out without permission, neglects the children, or refuses to have sexual intercourse. In fact, 15 percent of the women agreed that wife-beating is justified if she burns food. Surprisingly, Nigerian men are less likely to justify spousal violence according to the report.
On the other hand, the report also reveals a poor attitudinal response to violence among Nigerian women. More than half of women (55 percent) who have experienced physical or sexual violence have never sought help to stop the violence. Only 32 percent have sought help many of which come from victim’s families. Help-seeking behaviour of Nigerian women is still approximately the same percentage as it was in 2013.
A few questions arise from the situation of violence against women in Nigeria. First of this is the seemingly poor perception of violence and abuse amongst women themselves. Another is still the state of FGM which is still somewhat significant. The low level of help-seeking behaviour among women is another concern.
The report thus revealed that advocacy and efforts to uphold women’s rights should be followed with adequate enlightenment and education on the various issues around rights. As we legislate, we should also educate. Although governments at national and subnational levels are responding to the advocacy to end violence against women through legislation, more is to be done.
Particularly, there is a need to enlighten women (and men) on women’s rights, the ills of violence against women, and the importance of obtaining medical and psycho-social help after suffering violence. Together with this is the need to enforce penalties on perpetrators of violence to serve to provide a deterrent. More institutions where victims can obtain psycho-social support after abuse should also be provided. It is also important to disabuse on cultures and norms supportive of violence against women.