Domestic Violence and Psychological Distress Among Women Attending Primary Health Centers in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria

Domestic violence is a pervasive human rights violation with severe psychological consequences for affected women, yet it remains underreported and inadequately addressed in many parts of Nigeria. This study investigates the prevalence of domestic violence and its association with psychological distress among women attending primary health centers in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will recruit 270 women aged 18 to 55 years from six primary health centers in Uyo, Ikot Abasi, and Eket local government areas. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2) will assess domestic violence experiences, while the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) will measure distress levels. Sociodemographic factors including age, marital status, education, economic dependence, and number of children will be documented. Logistic regression will examine predictors of psychological distress. Studies in South South Nigeria have noted high rates of intimate partner violence linked to economic dependency and cultural norms of male dominance. Findings will inform the development of gender-responsive mental health services and support policy advocacy for domestic violence prevention in Akwa Ibom State. Keywords: domestic violence, psychological distress, women, Akwa Ibom State, intimate partner violence