ATTITUDE TO WIFE BEATING

Wife beating is a form of physical violence that particularly degrades women. It is also a violation of women’s human rights. Worldwide, abuse by a husband is one of the most common forms of violence against women (Heise et al., 1999). Acceptance of this practice reflects women’s low status and the perception that men are superior to women. In addition to adverse physical health outcomes, this form of violence lowers a woman’s self-esteem and her image in society, leading to her disempowerment.

In Nigeria, as in many other African countries, reports reveal a "shockingly high" level of violence against women (NPC and UNFPA, 2014). Domestic violence is common in both urban and rural families in Nigeria (NPC and ICF Macro, 2009). When a society tolerates and accepts violence against women, eradication of such violence is more difficult.

Women who believe that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife may think they have low status. Such a perception could act as a barrier to their accessing health care for themselves and their children, affect their attitudes toward contraceptive use, and damage their general well-being.

In many countries, both women and men believe that wife-beating is justified in certain circumstances. However, attitudes towards violence are beginning to change. In almost all countries with available information for more than one year, the level of both women’s and men’s acceptance of violence has diminished over time. The states were ranked by the attitude of husband and wife to wife beating.