The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) provides insight into Nigerian attitudes-both male and female-toward the justification of wife beating under various conditions. The data highlights how perspectives differ by age and geographic location within the country.
According to the NDHS 2018 findings, approximately 20% of Nigerian women find wife beating justifiable in at least one circumstance, whereas about 10% of men share this view. Regional disparities are also evident, with the highest acceptance rates in the North East and North West, and the lowest in the South West.
Common Grounds for Justifying Wife Beating
The survey identified five main reasons cited by Nigerians as acceptable triggers for wife beating:
- When a wife fails to care for the children
- If she leaves the home without informing her husband
- Refusal to engage in sexual relations
- Disputing or arguing with her husband
- Burning the food during cooking
Comparing Male and Female Perspectives
Nationally, the most frequently accepted justification among women is child neglect, with 21.4% of women aged 14 to 49 endorsing wife beating in such cases. An equal percentage also condones it if a wife goes out without notifying her husband. Additionally, 20.1% of women believe it is acceptable if a wife denies sexual intimacy, while 19.6% justify it when a wife argues with her spouse. The least supported reason among women is burning food, with 14.5% approval.
Men’s responses show consistently lower acceptance rates across all scenarios. For instance, 11.6% of men justify wife beating if a wife leaves without informing her husband, and the same percentage applies to child neglect. When it comes to refusal of sexual relations, 11.1% of men find beating acceptable. Arguing with the husband is justified by 12.5% of men, while only 7.3% condone violence if the wife burns the food.
Regional Variations in Attitudes
The NDHS data reveals notable regional differences, especially regarding wife beating justified by child neglect. In the North East, 32.3% of women and 21.1% of men agree that wife beating is warranted in such cases. The North West shows similar trends, with 31.4% of women and 14.9% of men supporting this view.
In contrast, the North Central region reports lower acceptance, with 24% of women and only 5% of men justifying wife beating for child neglect. The South East records 13.4% of women and 6.1% of men in agreement, while the South South shows 11.6% of women and 10.9% of men. The South West has the lowest figures nationwide, with just 4.7% of women and 7.4% of men endorsing wife beating under these circumstances.
Across all five scenarios, women consistently show higher rates of justification than men. For example, 14.5% of women versus 7.3% of men justify wife beating for burning food. When it comes to arguing with the husband, 19.6% of women and 12.5% of men agree with the justification. Leaving the home without informing the husband is accepted by 21.4% of women compared to 11.6% of men. Child neglect is justified by 21.4% of women and 11.6% of men, while refusal of sexual relations is supported by 20.1% of women and 11.1% of men.
