Sexual violations among married women in southeastern Nigeria

Objective

To investigate domestic sexual violations in southeastern Nigeria and the opinions of married women regarding sexual rights for women.

Method

Married women attending gynecologic clinics at 3 major hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria, completed a structured questionnaire.

Results

A culture of male dominance seemed to be the leading cause for the following high rates: husband's total monopoly on decisions regarding sex, 54.1%; inability to refuse the husband's demands for sex, 60.7%; sex-related verbal abuse, 39.3%; sex-related physical violence, 16.2%; and forced sex, 19.1%. Women with a university education and unemployed women reported sexual violations more frequently than did others. Most respondents supported sexual rights for women.

Conclusion

Married women in southeastern Nigeria still are denied sexual rights, apparently owing to a culture of male dominance. A higher education alone may not lead to the advent of sexual rights for women, and a greater emphasis should be placed on societal reorientation.