Help Seeking Pattern among Postpartum Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence in Osogbo, Nigeria

Aim: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health issue in both developed and developing countries. A view of IPV as a personal problem, often reinforced by community and perpetrator denial as well as fear of retaliation and social ostracisation, deter many women from confiding in others and seeking help. The study aimed to assess help seeking pattern and knowledge about non-governmental organizations (NGO) among postpartum women attending postnatal and infant welfare clinics of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LTH), Osogbo.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at LTH, Osogbo Nigeria, between September and November 2015.

Methodology: The study was conducted among 220 consenting postpartum women attending postnatal and infant welfare clinics of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo using composite abuse scale and socio-demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.

Results: Majority of those who experienced IPV, 42 (71.2%) did not seek help. Among the 28.8% that sought help, majority used informal strategies like mother and other family members. Ninety-four percent of those who sought help said it was helpful and sixty-one percent of those exposed to intimate partner violence are aware of non-governmental organizations.

Conclusion: There is need to strengthen the family members on how to support those exposed to intimate partner violence (through education on the media) since many women prefer them to formal services and more awareness creation about existence of NGO is needed.