Prevalence, determinants and health implications of gender-based violence among women residing in internally displaced camps, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria – a community-based mixed method study
1
Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2107
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) affects 1 in 3 women globally. Conflicts and unrest significantly increase women’s GBV risk because of social support disintegration and loss of livelihood. Benue State in the North Central region of Nigeria has had continuous crisis due to farmers-herders clash, increasing the number of internally displaced persons (IDP), particularly women. This study assessed prevalence, determinants and health implications of GBV among internally displaced women in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
METHODS:
A community-based cross-sectional study supplemented with qualitative data was conducted between November and December 2024. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select 292 women aged 15 to 49 years from IDP camps in Makurdi, Nigeria. A validated semi-structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide were used for data collection. Four FGDs sessions were conducted (n=29). The association between variables was analyzed using bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression at p-value < 0.05. Qualitative data was thematically analysed.
RESULTS:
Mean age of respondents was 35.74 (SD 10.73) years. Overall prevalence of GBV was 46.9%. Emotional violence (43.2%) was mostly reported followed by physical violence (27.7%). Commonly reported perpetrators were intimate partners (16.4%), camp officials (16.4%) and fellow displaced persons (15.8%). Mostly reported health implications were physical pain (43.9%), thought of self-harm (33.3%) and injury (24.8%). Significant determinants of GBV experience were young age <30 years (AOR = 3.80; 95% CI 2.29-6.29), secondary education (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI 1.42-6.23) and household size of <5 (AOR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.01-2.56). In addition, commonly reported health effects in qualitative data were hypertension, unwanted pregnancies, and mental health issues.
CONCLUSIONS:
Gender-based violence occurrence is high among displaced women in Nigeria. A community-based education, prevention, and government intervention is essential to protect women from gender-based violence and associated health effects among internally displaced women.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) affects 1 in 3 women globally. Conflicts and unrest significantly increase women’s GBV risk because of social support disintegration and loss of livelihood. Benue State in the North Central region of Nigeria has had continuous crisis due to farmers-herders clash, increasing the number of internally displaced persons (IDP), particularly women. This study assessed prevalence, determinants and health implications of GBV among internally displaced women in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
METHODS:
A community-based cross-sectional study supplemented with qualitative data was conducted between November and December 2024. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select 292 women aged 15 to 49 years from IDP camps in Makurdi, Nigeria. A validated semi-structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide were used for data collection. Four FGDs sessions were conducted (n=29). The association between variables was analyzed using bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression at p-value < 0.05. Qualitative data was thematically analysed.
RESULTS:
Mean age of respondents was 35.74 (SD 10.73) years. Overall prevalence of GBV was 46.9%. Emotional violence (43.2%) was mostly reported followed by physical violence (27.7%). Commonly reported perpetrators were intimate partners (16.4%), camp officials (16.4%) and fellow displaced persons (15.8%). Mostly reported health implications were physical pain (43.9%), thought of self-harm (33.3%) and injury (24.8%). Significant determinants of GBV experience were young age <30 years (AOR = 3.80; 95% CI 2.29-6.29), secondary education (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI 1.42-6.23) and household size of <5 (AOR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.01-2.56). In addition, commonly reported health effects in qualitative data were hypertension, unwanted pregnancies, and mental health issues.
CONCLUSIONS:
Gender-based violence occurrence is high among displaced women in Nigeria. A community-based education, prevention, and government intervention is essential to protect women from gender-based violence and associated health effects among internally displaced women.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
