Impact of intimate partner violence on anxiety and depression amongst women in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Research into intimate partner violence in the Nigerian environment has been limited. The objective of this study was to determine,
amongst a sample of women attending the Enuwa Primary Health Care Center, Ile-Ife, the association between intimate partner
violence and anxiety/depression. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 373 women who attended the antenatal
clinic and welfare units of a primary health centre in Ile-Ife using the Composite Abuse Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression
Scale and a socio-demographic scale as instruments. Slightly over a third (36.7 %) reported intimate partner violence within
the past year, 5.6 % had anxiety and 15.5 % were depressed. Anxiety and depression in the respondents were significantly associated
with intimate partner violence. Women were ten times more likely to report being depressed and 17 times more likely to report
anxiety if they were in violent relationships. This research has shown that the magnitude of intimate partner violence within
the study population is comparable to those found in the developing countries. There are significant associations between
intimate partner violence, anxiety and depression amongst the study population and this fact undoubtedly has implications
for the mental health of the Nigerian woman.