SPOUSAL VIOLENCE AND RADIO HELP-SEEKING ENLIGHTENMENTCAMPAIGNS AMONG YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined spousal violence and radio help-seeking enlightenment campaigns 
among young married people in Nigeria. Reinforcement theory explains spousal violence 
and links individual spouses to violence because of their background or a history of 
parental violence. The study used the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018) 
secondary data. NDHS is a nationally representative cross-sectional sample survey 
conducted in Nigeria in 2018 that collects data on marriage and sexuality, fertility, family 
planning infant and child mortality, maternal health care, child health, adult and maternal 
mortality, women’s empowerment, domestic violence disability, and female genital 
mutilation and other topics for men aged between 15-54 years, women aged between 15
49 years and children under 5 years of age with the use of multistage stratified 
sampling procedure. Findings showed that most women have never sought help or told 
anyone about the violence and that most women that are resident in the urban areas suffer 
worse physical violence than those living in the rural areas of Nigeria. Findings showed 
that those who have experienced spousal sexual violence are more likely to report if they 
sustain injuries. Findings also showed that most women who have experienced spousal 
physical violence have initiated violence against their husbands. It is therefore 
recommended that Media must emphasise the needs for victims of spousal violence to speak 
up to get help. Women should be educated on maintaining peace at home with their 
spouses. Spousal Violence Special Court must be established to try offenders.