Thirty one percent of Nigerian women experience physical violence, says NDHS

Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018 NDHS) report has revealed that 31 percent of women in Nigeria have experienced physical violence from age 15 at least. The report which was one of the key findings revealed at the presentation of the 2018 NDHS report by the National Population Commission (NPC) in Uyo recently also said that a total of 47 percent of married women in the South South witness one form of domestic abuse or the other in their marital homes.

The report which was implemented by the NPC in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) of the Federal Ministry of Health stated that out of the 36 states in the country, Jigawa recorded the lowest rate of physical violence of four percent while Taraba topped the list with 68 percent as the most common perpetrator of physical violence against married women is a current husband and partner with 58 percent while among never married women, the most common perpetrator is the mother and stepmother with 35 percent.
 
The findings revealed that one-third of married women have experienced spousal violence, whether physical, sexual, or emotional by their current or most recent husband or partner. By states, the report said, spousal violence ranges from a low of 13 percent in Jigawa to a high of 75 percent in Kogi while spousal violence is 49 percent higher among women who are divorced, separated, widowed than 35 percent among married women.
 
While declaring the workshop open, state governor, Udom Emmanuel commended the NPC for their statutory role in providing data especially on population and health surveys in Nigeria.

Emmanuel who was represented by the Executive Director, Agricultural Investment Directorate of Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP) Bassey Umoenoh, said healthcare is a critical component of his administration, which is why they have invested huge resources in renovating and remodeling primary as well as secondary medical facilities and equipping them with modern medical equipment.
 
On his part, Federal Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom in the National Population Commission, Benedict Ukpong said new, innovative approaches were used in the conduct of the 2018 NDHS.Ukpong said, the result of the survey shows a number of significant outcomes; few extract of the results with respect to Akwa Ibom State he stated included the fact that “women in Nigeria have an average of 5.3 children.

Fertility varies by state, from a low of 3.4 children per woman in Lagos to a high of 7.3 children per woman in Katsina. From the foregoing, total fertility indicator for Akwa Ibom (3.6) shows a low fertility rate compared to South zone (4.0) and national average of 5.3.
 
“Under-5 mortality in Nigeria varied by state, ranging from 30 deaths per 1,000 live births in Ogun to 252 deaths per 1,000 live births in kebbi while Under-5 mortality in Akwa Ibom is 98 deaths per 1,000 live births and 73 deaths per 1,000 live births for the South South geopolitical zone”. Other key findings from the report he said indicates that nearly 2 in 5 (37 percent) children under five in Nigeria are stunted or too short for their age. By state, stunting is lowest in Anambra (14 percent) and highest in Kebbi (66 percent). In Akwa Ibom, stunting is 20 percent, which he noted is within south South zone average.