PERPETRATION AND EXPERIENCE OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AMONG STUDENTS OF KADUNA POLYTECHNIC, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious underreported social and public health problem affecting both men and women. Victims are usually reluctant to report due to the fear of reprisal attacks and stigmatisation. Information from developed countries suggests that violence occurs among students of higher institutions. There is dearth of similar information in peri-developed countries like Nigeria which will be useful in developing preventive strategies. This study was conducted to assess the perpetration and experience of IPV among students in Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional design, a three-stage sampling technique was adopted to select two out of five colleges, seven departments using simple random sampling and systematically select 860 students. Six Focus Group Discussion (FGD) sessions with students and 19 Key Informant Interviews (KlIs) with student leaders were conducted to collect data on IPV. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, risk factors, health risks and scales (adapted from National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey) for perpetration and experience of IPV. Three domains (physical, sexual and psychological) of IPV that respondents perpetrated or experienced in their lifetime and six months before the study were assessed. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis, while quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression at p<0.05. Some male and female participants in the FGDs and KlIs believed that a woman should be beaten and IPV is important for men to earn partner's respect. Respondents' mean age was 25.0±4.6 years. Majority (68.5%) were males and 86.2% were single. Fifteen percent and 4.4% of respondents reported that they and their partners respectively consumed alcohol. Twenty percent had ever perpetrated IPV (male: 23.1%, female: 17.7%), while 7.2% (male: 7.8%, female: 5.9%) had done so six months before the study. Violence ever perpetrated included psychological ( 14.5%), physical (9.5%) and sexual (8.6%). Thirty seven percent had ever experience IP (male: 40.1%, female: 28.8%). Forms IPV ever experience were psychological (31.9%), sexual (12.7%) and physical (8.3%). Six months before the study, 18.0% (male: 19.0%, female: 15.9%) had experienced IPV. Twenty percent of respondents who experienced IPV suffered physical injuries. Significantly, males were more likely to perpetrate (OR 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.3) and experience (OR 1.4; 95% CI: 1.0-2.0) vIOLENCE. sINGLE WOMEN (or 3.3; 95% ci: 0.3-3.3) and women whose partners took alcohol (OR 3.2; 95% CI: 0.2-0.5) and experiencing (OR 3.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.5) IPV were higher among alcohol users than non-users. Witnessing parental violence increased the risk of females perpetrating violence (OR 2.1: 95% CI: 0.1-0.4). Intimate partner violence (perpetrated and experienced) was common but higher in male than female students. Policies and school-based interventions should address violence-inducing behaviours such as alcohol use to promote healthy relationships.