Study of Domestic Violence Patterns and Reporting Behaviour Among Women in Oyo State

Domestic violence against women represents a pervasive but severely underreported crime in Nigeria, and understanding the patterns of victimisation and barriers to reporting in Oyo State is essential for designing effective intervention and justice system responses. This study examined domestic violence patterns and reporting behaviour among women in Ibadan North and Akinyele Local Government Areas, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 240 women aged 18 to 49 recruited from healthcare centres and community women's groups. The WHO multicountry domestic violence instrument was adapted for the local context. Results showed that 53.8 percent of respondents had experienced at least one form of domestic violence in the preceding 12 months, with psychological violence (47.1 percent) and physical violence (38.3 percent) most prevalent. Formal reporting to the police or legal authorities had occurred in only 11.3 percent of cases. Primary barriers to reporting included fear of abandonment (68.2 percent of non-reporters), financial dependence on the abuser (61.4 percent), cultural norms accepting male discipline (55.7 percent), and distrust of police treatment of domestic violence complaints (49.2 percent). Victims who reported to informal networks (family, religious leaders) accounted for 47.9 percent but rarely obtained sustainable protection. The study concludes that domestic violence remains a hidden crime in Oyo State. Recommendations include specialist domestic violence police units, legal aid services for victims, community awareness campaigns, and mandatory reporting training for healthcare providers.

Keywords: domestic violence, women victimisation, crime reporting, Oyo State, gender-based violence