A new Doctoral study at the University of Ibadan in Oyo state has revealed that many men suffer spousal abuse in Lagos State.
The study revealed that many married men in Lagos State who are victims of spousal abuse suffer in silence as society does not believe that men could be in such situations.
This was part of the findings of a doctoral thesis carried out by Dr. Ifeanyi Uzoamaka Chukwuma entitled “Spousal abuse against men in Lagos State, Nigeria.”.
The study found that married men among the sampled population in Kosofe, Lagos Mainland, Agege, Mushin and Ikorodu, are victims of different forms of spousal abuse.
According to Chukwuma, married men suffered mostly emotional abuse, followed by sexual abuse, physical and economic abuses.
She explained that men who are older than their wives experienced more abuse than men who are younger than their wives.
According to her, married men whose wives were not in their first marriage were two times more likely to experience spousal abuse while men in polygamous marriage are less likely to be victims of spousal abuse.
The criminologist said despite being abused, “men would not report because they feared reactions from friends and family, did not want third-party interference and because they were still financially dependent on their wives”.
Chukwuma noted that spousal abuse against men is underreported despite its prevalence in Lagos State.
She urged the federal and state governments to establish centres to deal with male victims of spousal abuse and prosecute female perpetrators.
