A recent Public Opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls
Limited in partnership with Project Alert on
domestic violence has revealed an increasing
prevalence of domestic violence across Nigeria in
recent times as reported by about 8 in 10 (78
percent) respondents.
The poll showed that domestic violence has been
heightened by the economic hardship in Nigeria.
The poll measured the opinion of Nigerians on the
increasing prevalence of domestic violence in
Nigeria and the results showed that 78 percent of
Nigerians nationwide stated that there is an
increasing prevalence of domestic violence in
Nigeria, and this view was evenly shared across gender, geo-political zones and age-groups.
Further results from the poll revealed that despite
its prohibition by Section 34 (1) of the 1999
Constitution, which guarantees the rights of all
against torture and other cold-hearted or
degrading treatment; the largest proportion of the
respondents (97 percent) who believe there is an increasing prevalence of domestic violence in
Nigeria stated that domestic violence of men
against women is highly/somewhat prevalent in
the Nigerian society and this is the same across all
geo-political zones.
Other segments of the respondents believe that
men are also at the receiving end of domestic
violence in Nigerian homes, as 47 percent stated
that domestic violence of women against men is
also prevalent.
The North-East geopolitical zone (79 percent) make
up the highest proportion of respondents with this
perception, although, 53 percent have a contrary
opinion stating that domestic violence of women
against men is non prevalent or non-existent in the
Nigerian society.
Meanwhile, 79 percent also mentioned domestic
violence against children is highly prevalent, and
this is the same across all geopolitical zones.
The prevalence according to the study is highest in
the South-West geo-political zone (86 percent) and
lowest in the South-South zone (70 percent).
More findings revealed that 54 percent of Nigerians
have suffered a form of domestic violence or know
someone that has experienced domestic violence
in their homes with majority of the victims being
women as stated by 75 percent of respondents,
although ‘men’ (16 percent) and ‘children’ (9 percent) are also known to be victims of domestic
violence.
Moreover findings from a similar poll conducted by
NOIPolls in 2012 which revealed that 4 percent of
the respondents were victims and 29 percent
indicated they know victims of domestic violence,
potrays an increase in the occurrence of domestic
violence in Nigeria when these figures are compared to recent figures.
An evaluation of the causes of domestic violence in
Nigeria revealed that Nigerians perceive ‘economic
hardship’ (42 percent), ‘misunderstanding
between couples’ (21 percent) and ‘impatience’ (9
percent) as the main causes of domestic violence in
Nigerian homes.
Furthermore, the poll revealed that victims of
domestic violence do not take any action about
their cases, implying that most domestic violence
cases go unreported.
These victims do not take any action mainly ‘to
avoid stigmatization’ (34 percent), while in other
cases it could be as a result of ignorance and
illiteracy of victims (21 percent), emotional
attachment to their spouses and partners (18
percent) and fear of threat or insecurity (17 percent).
While several individuals, civil society organisations
and other relevant stakeholders have risen to fight
against the prevalance of this evil in the Nigerian
society, Nigerians have suggested that the fostering
of mutual understanding in marriages and
relationships as well as proper enlightenment on marriage amongst other suggestions will play
critical roles in reducing the prevalence of domestic
violence in Nigeria.
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