RipplesMetrics: Reasons many Nigerians still justify wife beating

The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) shows how Nigerians, both men and women, view wife beating under different circumstances. The numbers reveal attitudes across age groups and regions of the country.

The NDHS 2018 data show that around one in five women across Nigeria justify wife beating in one or more circumstances, while men’s responses fall closer to one in ten. The figures also reveal significant differences across regions, with the North East and North West showing the highest levels of justification, while the South West records the lowest.

Reasons for wife beating

The survey threw up five responses from Nigerians on reasons and situations under which wife beating is justified.
They include:
*When a wife neglects the children

*If the woman goes out without informing her husband.

*If a wife refuses to have sexual intercourse with her husband,

*If she argues with him.

*If the wife burns the food.

Men vs Women: Who Justifies More?

Nationally, one of the most common situations where women justify wife beating is when a wife neglects the children. The survey shows that 21.4 per cent of women between the ages of 14 and 49 believe a husband is justified in beating his wife in such cases. The same proportion of women, another 21.4 per cent, also justify wife beating if the woman goes out without informing her husband. In addition, 20.1 per cent of women say it is acceptable if a wife refuses to have sexual intercourse with her husband, while 19.6 per cent hold the same opinion if she argues with him. A smaller, but still notable, 14.5 per cent of women justify wife beating if the wife burns the food.

When men were asked the same questions, their responses showed lower levels of justification across all scenarios. For men, 11.6 per cent justify wife beating when a woman goes out without telling her husband, and another 11.6 per cent say it is acceptable if she neglects the children. In cases where a wife refuses sexual intercourse, 11.1 per cent of men believe beating is justified. When the issue is arguing with the husband, 12.5 per cent of men share the view that violence is acceptable. Burning food attracts the lowest male support, with 7.3 per cent justifying wife beating in such cases.

Regional Differences

The NDHS also highlights regional patterns in attitudes toward wife beating, particularly when the reason is neglecting the children. In the North East, 32.3 per cent of women justify wife beating in this case, while 21.1 per cent of men share the same opinion. In the North West, the figures are almost as high, with 31.4 per cent of women and 14.9 per cent of men agreeing that neglecting children warrants wife beating.

The North Central region records lower levels than the far north, with 24 per cent of women and 5 per cent of men saying wife beating is acceptable when children are neglected. In the South East, 13.4 per cent of women and 6.1 per cent of men justify wife beating in such cases. The South South presents a similar picture, with 11.6 per cent of women and 10.9 per cent of men agreeing. The South West reports the lowest rates nationwide: only 4.7 per cent of women and 7.4 per cent of men justify wife beating when a wife neglects her children.

Across the five scenarios measured in the NDHS, women consistently report higher levels of justification than men. For burning food, women’s figure stands at 14.5 percent, compared to 7.3 percent among men. When the wife argues with her husband, 19.6 per cent of women justify beating, while 12.5 per cent of men do the same. Going out without telling their husbands is reported by 21.4 per cent of women versus 11.6 per cent of men. Neglecting the children records equal numbers among women and men at 21.4 per cent and 11.6 per cent respectively, while refusing sexual intercourse stands at 20.1 per cent of women compared to 11.1 per cent of men.

By: James Odunayo

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