Characteristics of Male Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in South-South Nigeria

Aims: This study was done to identify personal characteristics of men that may be associated with partner abuse in order to provide a basis for offering counseling services, to prevent, as well as appropriately manage cases of existing abuse.

Study Design: Cross sectional survey.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was done at the General Outpatients Clinic of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria; between August and November 2007.

Methodology: The examiner administered pre-tested questionnaire on adult females attending the clinic within the duration of the study. Every second patient seen by the investigator on the waiting line of a regular medical consultation visit that consented to the study was recruited until the desired sample size was got. Socio-demographic as well as drug use information of adult subjects’ partners aged between 18 to 59 years was obtained.

Results: Of the 384 females investigated, age 21 – 67 years with a mean age of 31.31±8.61 years: physical abuse 41.9%, verbal/emotional abuse 49.0%, and a combined (physical/verbal) abuse 29.9%. Partners’ education had statistically significant relationship with physical abuse, P=0.018; partners’ tobacco uses with verbal abuse (P=0.000), and between combined abuse and use of tobacco or cannabis, P=0.003 and 0.048 respectively.

Linear multiple regression model of physical abuse parameters: throw something at, being pushed, slapped, kicked, hit at, beaten-up, threatened or weapon used, and forced sex; P-value was 0.000, with sum of squares 60.263 and degree of freedom 9. Whereas for verbal abuse: cajoled, derogatory statements made at, name calling, and shout at, as abuse parameters; P-value was 0.000, sum of squares 72.763 and degree of freedom, 4. Both of these were statistically significant.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates a higher perpetration of verbal/emotional violence than that of physical violence (or both) by males on their partners with lack of formal education, with tobacco and/or cannabis use, as aggravating factors.