ANALYSIS OF DETERMINANT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG WOMEN IN PLATEAU STATE USING LOGISTIC REGRESSION MODEL

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Background of the Study

Domestic violence is one of the gender-based violence that has the highest effect on an individual’s social and emotional status. It involves sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse. Depending on the traditions and the law of the land, the issue about domestic violence has had varied reactions. In some settings like African culture, domestic violence against a woman by the husband had been traditionally accepted since it was purported that the husband had legal right to his wife’s body. However, the damage caused by such violence has led many countries to legislate laws that ensure that women have legal protection against domestic violence.

The concept of family violence refers to acts of violence and abuse by a family member over another (Kashani and Allan, 1998). Women and children are often in great danger in the place where they should feel safe; within the family. For many “home” implies a regime of terror and violence from someone who should be close to them, in whom they should trust. Thus, people who are abused not only suffer physically but also psychologically and emotionally. They are unable to make decisions or express their views.

Domestic violence or abuse is defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship designed to support or maintain power and control over an intimate partner (United Nation)

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says Plateau State, North-central Nigeria, recorded about 288 domestic violence cases between Jan. and May 2022 and factors like unemployment, cultural beliefs, substance abuse, witnessing family violence as a child, having low self-esteem, and a slow and ineffective legal process were worsening the situation. There are times that one of the partners is drunk and the people tolerate them because of stigmatisation, which has become a norm in society. So, people feel it is normal and keep silent about it. Some of these religious and cultural teachings that subject people to stay in abusive relationships which lead a lot of people to an early grave.

Domestic violence has both direct and indirect costs since it affects the victim’s health, physical and psychological status. The indirect cost involves the amount of healthy working days lost when a victim is rendered less productive due to injuries. Injuries from physical violence, particularly, have a higher impact on the victim’s health. Some of the injuries are long-term, even when the relationship is terminated due to intolerance of the victim’s partner. While injuries like cuts and bruises can be short term, miscarriage, bony injuries, loss of hearing and vision can have long-term effects (Fraser, 2003). The extreme cases of domestic violence lead to death of the victims. Although there could be under-reporting of partner homicides, it is estimated that three out of five deaths in Australia are caused by domestic violence between intimate partners (Fraser, 2003). The deaths are often associated with a long history of domestic violence between partners. For example, the death of a partner from kidney failure after a long-term effect of violence may still be attributed to the violence regardless of when it happened. However, cost of violence has been underestimated in many societies. This is because, there are very few social controls placed on domestic violence, especially in a patriarchal society where male assertiveness is key.

Some of the determinants of domestic violence are based on laws put in place for domestic violence, society characteristics, individual characteristics, household and marital characteristics. National laws against domestic violence have been seen to reduce incidences of domestic violence. The rate of enforcement of the laws also determines how the society respects the law. Individuals living in violent societies like war and internal conflict are more likely to view violence as a normal occurrence. Thus, such a society will allow domestic violence to thrive than what a nonviolent society will do. A nonviolent society will impose tough laws against any form of violence, hence setting a cover on domestic violence.

Society access to resources determines the degree of domestic violence exhibited by household. Research has shown that modernization, which brings resources closer to the people, improves woman’s status in the society hence facilitating a decrease in gender differences. In such a society, the cost placed on domestic violence is relatively high, thus it works as a buffer against domestic violence. A modernized society does not respect patriarchal settings, thus women empowerment allows a decrease in violence.

The Nigerian government has taken legal proceedings to prosecute men who abuse women in several states. There is currently a push in Nigeria federal laws concerning domestic violence and for a stronger national response and support for domestic violence issues.

However, a general understanding of the determinants of the domestic violence in developing countries like Nigeria has been very slim. This is because there is a deep cultural belief in Nigeria that it is socially acceptable to hit a woman is a disciplinary measure. In other settings, domestic violence has had varied descriptions with marriage sexual violence being less considered as violence. A number of violence prevention efforts have been put in place on gender based violence. Victim safety and support have been put in place while violence perpetrators have been held accountable. However, the community setting and percentage of perpetrators in a community has been left open to reported cases. For example, polygamy, high poverty index, female seclusion and early marriages, and high illiteracy levels among women characterize the community setting in Nigeria. In such a community, domestic violence is not a legal but social issue. This study will seek to address the key determinant of violence with an eye on the type of community that such violence cases thrive.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that affects the well-being and safety of women in abusive relationships. Despite increasing awareness and advocacy, many women remain trapped in cycles of abuse due to various socio-economic, psychological, and cultural factors. Identifying the key determinants of domestic violence is crucial for developing effective interventions and support systems. Logistic regression, a statistical method used for binary outcomes, can be instrumental in analyzing the complex interplay of these determinants. This study aims to explore how logistic regression can identify the critical factors contributing to domestic violence, ultimately enhancing the safety and well-being of women in abusive relationships.

1.3 Aim

The aim is to apply logistic regression analysis to identify key determinants of domestic violence and their impact on the well-being and safety of women in abusive relationships.

1.3 Specific Objectives

Specific Objectives

1.To identify socio-economic factors (e.g., income level, education, employment status) that contribute to domestic violence against women.

2. To assess psychological factors (e.g., mental health status, history of trauma) that may influence the likelihood of experiencing domestic violence.

3. To evaluate the role of cultural and societal norms (e.g., attitudes towards gender roles, community support) in perpetuating domestic violence.

4. To identify protective factors (e.g., social support networks, access to resources) that can mitigate the risks associated with domestic violence.

5. To provide recommendations for policy and intervention strategies based on the findings.

1.4 Significance of Study

Understanding community setting and the contribution of such a setting to domestic violence is key to law enforcer’s implementation of set regulations. This study will come in handy in exposing the predisposing factors for domestic violence even as it seeks to advise the policy makers on how well they can handle identified issues. This is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies to support women in abusive relationships. The study will also be useful to students and researchers who will venture into modeling social setting characteristics.

1.5 Scope of study

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