Understanding the Perspectives of Domestic Violence Perpetrators in Nigeria

This study sought to understand the lived experiences and perspectives of men who inflict violence on their female intimate partners, given the nuances of Nigeria’s individual, interpersonal, community, and societal factors. Eligible participants were male residents of Lagos State, Nigeria: (1) accused by their partner of perpetrating physical domestic violence (DV), (2) at least 21 years old, and (3) married. Nine men participated in the study and were purposively recruited from a governmental agency that provides on-site counseling and support to DV survivors and perpetrators. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. The interview guide was designed to elicit information on perceptions of DV lived experiences, factors that increase the risk of DV perpetration, sources of help, and factors that can improve help-seeking behaviors among DV survivors/perpetrators. Four major themes were identified from the data and included values, premarital and marital expectations, DV definition and perception, and DV experiences. DV perpetuation was deeply rooted in men’s childhood experiences of their fathers abusing their mothers and/or being exposed to other forms of violence early in life, sociocultural norms, economic pressures, and psychological factors. The findings from this study have implications for the development of DV interventions that are culturally tailored to address the unique challenges faced by families in Nigeria. Programs should focus on reshaping harmful gender norms, addressing economic/financial stressors, promoting healthy relationship dynamics, and early childhood DV prevention interventions. Campaigns that engage men while emphasizing the negative impacts of DV on families and communities could be instrumental in reducing victimization. Addressing modifiable risk factors earlier in the trajectory is critical in reducing the long-term incidence of DV. Our findings also underscore the importance of consistent enforcement of existing laws, such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, across Nigeria.