Journal Article

Influence of Community Social Norms on Spousal Violence: A Population-Based Multilevel Study of Nigerian Women

Kawachi, Ichiro, Slopen, Natalie, Subramanian, S. V., Berkman, Lisa, Linos, Natalia

2013

Overview

Objectives. We examined whether social norms toward spousal violence in Nigeria, at the state level, are associated with a woman’s exposure to physical and sexual violence perpetrated by her husband. Methods. Using data from the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey, we fit four 3-level random intercepts models to examine contextual factors associated with spousal violence while accounting for individual-level predictors. Results. Of the 18 798 ever-married Nigerian women in our sample, 18.7% reported exposure to spousal sexual or physical violence. The prevalence was geographically patterned by state and ranged from 3% to 50%. Permissive state-level social norms toward spousal violence were positively associated with a woman’s report of physical and sexual violence perpetrated by her husband (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17, 2.77), after adjusting for individual-level characteristics. A number of individual-level variables were significantly associated with victimization, including a woman’s accepting beliefs toward spousal violence (OR = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.09, 1.14). Women living in states with Sharia law were less likely to report spousal violence (OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.35, 0.95). Conclusions. Efforts to end violence against women, particularly spousal violence, should consider broader social and contextual determinants of violence including social norms.

• Publisher: American Public Health Association
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Attitudes / Behavior / Biological and medical sciences / Community / Cross-Sectional Studies / Culture / Domestic violence / Female / Gender / Gender-based violence / General aspects / Health Surveys / Households / Humans / Husbands / Individual differences / Interviews / Islamic law / Male / Medical research / Medical sciences / Mens health / Middle Aged / Miscellaneous / Nigeria - epidemiology / Norms / Prevalence / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychopathology. Psychiatry / Public health / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Questionnaires / Religion / Research and Practice / Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data / Response rates / Sex crimes / Sex roles / Sexual assault / Sexual violence / Social Conformity / Social norms / Spouse Abuse - statistics & numerical data / Spouses / Studies / Surveys and Questionnaires / Victimization / Victimology / Violence / Violence against women / Wives / Women / Womens health / Young Adult