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Sexual violations among married women in southeastern Nigeria
Author(s) -
Chigbu Chibuike O.,
Ekweazi Kingsley E.,
Chigbu Chioma C.,
Iwuji Stella E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.02.013
Subject(s) - dominance (genetics) , domestic violence , demography , sexual abuse , psychology , sexual violence , medicine , gender studies , poison control , suicide prevention , sociology , criminology , environmental health , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Objective To investigate domestic sexual violations in southeastern Nigeria and the opinions of married women regarding sexual rights for women. Method Married women attending gynecologic clinics at 3 major hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria, completed a structured questionnaire. Results A culture of male dominance seemed to be the leading cause for the following high rates: husband's total monopoly on decisions regarding sex, 54.1%; inability to refuse the husband's demands for sex, 60.7%; sex‐related verbal abuse, 39.3%; sex‐related physical violence, 16.2%; and forced sex, 19.1%. Women with a university education and unemployed women reported sexual violations more frequently than did others. Most respondents supported sexual rights for women. Conclusion Married women in southeastern Nigeria still are denied sexual rights, apparently owing to a culture of male dominance. A higher education alone may not lead to the advent of sexual rights for women, and a greater emphasis should be placed on societal reorientation.