Exploring the Llnkages between intimate partner violence and high risk fertility behaviour among ever-married women in Nigeria

Elizabeth O. Njoku, Obafemi Awolowo University
Ambrose Akinlo, Obafemi Awolowo University and North West University (MC Campus)
Sunday A. Adedini, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of the Witwatersrand
Olusina Bamiwuye, Obafemi Awolowo University
Ayodeji Kupoluyi, Obafemi Awolowo University
Bosede Oyinloye, Obafemi Awolowo University

High-risk-fertility-behaviour in Nigeria have stalled at high-levels of over 60% for over a decade. Evidences abound on associated factors yet there is empirical knowledge-gap linking IPV and high-risk-fertility-behaviour. Data from the 2013NDHS on a weighted sample of 22,236 ever-married women with at-least-a-live-birth in the last 5years preceding survey were employed. Roughly 15%, 5% and 20% ever-experienced physical, sexual and emotional violence respectively. We found that 63% of births are in an avoidable-risk category; 40% in single high-risk category, and 23% in multiple high-risk category. At the bivariate analysis level, physical, emotional and any form of physical, sexual or emotional violence are significantly related to any high-risk fertility behaviour. Ever-physically-abused influenced too-many birth but the un-adjusted ORs of the effects of IPV on different categories of high-risk behaviour are not significant. We therefore call for further studies on the possible association between IPV and high- risk births in other African countries