COMMUNITY CASE STUDY article
Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Public Mental Health
Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Nigeria: A Microcosm of Co-living Dynamics and Public Mental Health Challenges in Emerging Economies
Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Ibeh 1,2
Joseph Enyioma Akonye 1,2
Ngozi Faith Onyekere 1,2
Innocent Aja Ngene 1,2
Hope Chinenyenwa Nwigwe 1
Moses Ogbonna AGUDIEGWU 2
1. Alex ekwueme federal university, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2. Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Department of Political Science, Ikwo, Nigeria
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Abstract
Abstract Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) represents a critical global public health crisis and human rights violation, with rural women in emerging economies like Nigeria experiencing disproportionate vulnerability. While IPV transcends cultural and socioeconomic boundaries, significant gaps remain in understanding its specific manifestations and drivers within distinct rural contexts. This study investigated IPV within the rural communities of Nanka, Anambra State and Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, examining women's understanding of violence, perceived availability, their lived experiences, institutional failure, and awareness of legal protections and implementation gaps. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional design utilising a mixed-methods approach was employed. For the quantitative component, a total sample of 2,400 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) was calculated to provide robust statistical power. Using probability sampling methods—specifically stratified and systematic random sampling—1,200 women were targeted from each of the two local government areas (Nanka and Ikwo). Data collection was distributed evenly between the locations, with 1,180 valid questionnaires completed in each LGA after data cleaning. This yielded a final analytical sample of 2,360 questionnaires, representing an exceptionally high response rate of 98.3%. This quantitative data was supplemented by 40 in-depth interviews (IDIs)—comprising 24 women and 16 men—purposively selected from across the communities to capture nuanced, gendered perspectives on IPV norms, experiences, and reporting barriers. Results: The findings reveal a critical disconnect between abstract awareness and lived reality. Quantitatively, while 82.7% of respondents demonstrated a basic understanding of domestic violence, 67.9% of women reported experiencing at least one form of IPV, primarily within the
Summary
Keywords
gender-based violence, Initimate Partner violence, Legal awareness, Rural Women, Socio-cultural norms
Received
15 October 2025
Accepted
20 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Ibeh, Akonye, Onyekere, Ngene, Nwigwe and AGUDIEGWU. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Ibeh
Disclaimer
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