Effectiveness of Adult Education Programmes in Reducing Domestic Violence Incidence in Edo State

This study assessed the effectiveness of adult education programmes in reducing domestic violence incidence among families in Edo State, South South Nigeria. Domestic violence remains a pervasive social problem in Nigerian households, with low educational attainment frequently identified as a risk factor in both perpetration and victimisation. The study employed a descriptive survey design with 155 participants, including women in adult education programmes, community health workers, and legal aid providers, drawn from three urban and peri-urban local government areas in Edo State. Questionnaires, interviews, and case review documentation served as data collection tools. Findings indicated that women who participated in adult education programmes with gender-based violence awareness components reported increased ability to identify abusive behaviours, knowledge of legal rights, and willingness to seek help from relevant authorities. Programmes that engaged men and boys as active participants demonstrated stronger community-level attitudinal shifts. However, economic dependence on abusive partners, fear of social ostracism, and inadequate police responsiveness continued to undermine women's ability to act on acquired knowledge. The study recommends designing gender-transformative adult education curricula that challenge harmful social norms, providing economic empowerment components alongside awareness training, and strengthening collaboration between adult education providers and domestic violence response services. Safe reporting mechanisms and peer support networks within adult education centres are also proposed as protective structures. Keywords: adult education, domestic violence, gender-based violence, Edo State, women empowerment.