Peer-reviewed article
Attitudinal Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Nigeria and Tanzania: An Exploration Into Target Reference Groups
Melissa Meinhart, Ilana Seff, Gary Lee Darmstadt, Ann M. Weber, Lindsay Stark ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria and Tanzania using nationally representative survey data. Researchers found that age was not a significant predictor of accepting IPV for either gender, but education level was protective for males. Marriage emerged as a strong predictor of IPV acceptance among females in both countries, even when accounting for prior experience of violence. The findings suggest that interventions to prevent IPV acceptance should consider marital status as a critical intervention point, particularly for young women.
Key points
- Age was not a significant predictor of attitudinal acceptance of IPV in either country for either gender
- Higher education significantly decreased odds of IPV acceptance for males in both countries but not for females
- Marriage was strongly associated with increased acceptance of IPV for females in both Nigeria and Tanzania, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.66 and 1.56 respectively
- Prior 12-month experience of IPV was associated with increased acceptance of IPV for married females in Nigeria (aOR: 1.85) and interacted with marriage status to produce even higher acceptance (aOR: 3.42)
- Marriage showed no significant association with IPV acceptance for males in either country
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study that cannot establish causation, only associations; it cannot determine whether marriage causes increased IPV acceptance or whether those who already accept IPV are more likely to marry or remain in relationships.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Attitudinal programming for the prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescents and young adults often focuses on whom to target based on gender or age; yet other pivotal junctures may relate to when to intervene, such as critical events (e.g., marriage). Using data from the nationally representative Violence Against Children Survey in Nigeria and Tanzania, this study examines the gendered association of acceptance of IPV across 3 reference groups-age, marital status, and education attainment-for male and female adolescents and young adults. METHODS: Data were analyzed from a sample of 2,437 and 1,771 males in Nigeria and Tanzania, respectively, and 1,766 and 1,968 females in each respective country. Logistic regressions were used to estimate the odds of agreeing with at least one of 5 scenarios when it is acceptable for a husband to beat his wife. A second model examined how experience of IPV in the prior 12 months influences the attitudinal outcome for females. RESULTS: Age was not found to be a significant predictor for attitudinal acceptance of IPV in either country or for either gender. Level of schooling was found to be a significant predictor for decreased odds of attitudinal acceptance of IPV for males but not females in both countries. In contrast, being married was associated with IPV acceptance for females in Tanzania (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.56; confidence intervals [CIs]: 1.03-2.37) and Nigeria (aOR: 1.66; CIs: 1.19-2.30), but not for males. The significance of marriage for females in Nigeria remained (aOR: 1.67; CIs: 1.20-2.33), even adjusted for past 12-month IPV experience (aOR: 1.85; CIs: 1.11-3.07) and the interaction of IPV experience and marriage (aOR: 3.42, CIs: 1.72-6.80). CONCLUSIONS: Among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria and Tanzania, there are gendered associations for attitudinal acceptance of IPV. Marriage appears to be a strong predictor for females, even adjusted for IPV experience, thus indicating that there is something unique to marriage among female adolescents and young adults that influences acceptance of IPV.