KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA: AN URBAN–RURAL COMPARISON
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Abstract
Domestic violence (DV) remains a major public health issue globally. Knowledge and attitudes toward DV shape women’s perceptions, responses, and resilience. However, little is known about how knowledge and attitudes vary across urban and rural populations in Nigeria.
This study compared the knowledge and attitudes among women in urban and rural communities in Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 588 women in Nnewi North (urban) and Anaocha (rural) LGAs of Anambra State. A multi-stage sampling method was applied. Quantitative data were collected with structured questionnaires, while qualitative data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 20 survivors. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done using the IBM SPSS software version 25.0, while thematic analysis guided qualitative insights.
The mean age of the respondents was 31.88±10.1 years. The most common age group was 20–29 years (208; 35.4%), had secondary education (328; 55.8%), and married (394; 67.0%). Awareness of DV was high (92.0%) in both groups, though awareness was higher among the urban women [93.5% (275) to 90.5% (266)] with family members being the main source of information.
Knowledge level was 57.3% (338) overall, but significantly higher among urban women [55.8% (188) to 44.2% (149)] compared to rural women (χ²: 13.11; P: 0.001). Positive attitudes toward addressing DV was 65.7% (386) generally and more common in urban respondents than rural women [60.4% (233) to 39.6% (153)], a difference that was highly significant (χ²: 48.52; P: 0.001).
Qualitative findings reinforced these results, with rural women often normalizing DV as “discipline,” while urban women expressed more critical attitudes toward male dominance. Knowledge and attitudes toward DV differ significantly between urban and rural women, suggesting that interventions must be context-specific. Public health programs should incorporate awareness campaigns and community-based initiatives to shift harmful norms and promote gender equality, especially in rural areas.
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