AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PATTERNS AND LEVELS OF PHYSICAL FORMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Domestic violence remains a pervasive social issue in Nigeria, affecting individuals across socio-economic 
and cultural boundaries. This study assesses the patterns and levels of domestic violence in Nigeria, 
exploring its various forms, underlying factors, and societal implications. In other words, domestic 
violence does not know any kind of barrier, be it age, sex, race, culture, tribe, religion, geographical 
location, etc. The study mainly exploited secondary data source obtained from the National Population 
Commission (National Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS 2018 Report) to analyze the pattern and 
levels of domestic violence in Nigeria. The study revealed that the aforementioned socio-demographic and 
economic factors inter-alia have the strongest impact on physical violence; age -experience of domestic 
violence according to age shows that the age group 30-39 experiences the highest rate of domestic 
violence (31.9%), and the least is the age group 40-49 (28.2%);  marital status – the 
divorced/separated/widowed (48.8%), followed by never married (36.0%); according to residence, urban 
(32.3%), rural (29.9%); according to geopolitical zone, highest, South-south (46.4%), lowest, Northwest 
(11.7%); among the states of Northwest, highest, Kaduna (28.7%), lowest, Jigawa (4.4%); according to 
religion, domestic violence is reported highest among the Catholic (38.4%) and other Christians (41.5%) 
than among other religious faiths, Islam (21.9%) and Traditionalist (34.9%). The paper recommended 
enlightenment programmes to be targeted most especially to couples and other family members.