Ebonyi and Anambra states have the highest cases of spousal violence in Nigeria according to new report

EBONYI and Anambra states have been reported to have the highest cases of spousal violence in Nigeria according to a recent report published by the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).

In the recently-released report, Ebonyi recorded 54% cases of spousal violence, while Anambra has 53%. Presented at the weekend by the National Population Commission (NPC) in close collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), under the Federal Ministry of Health, the report was unveiled at the Anambra State Dissemination and the official launch of the 2018 NDHS, in Awka, the state capital.

It showed that in Anambra State, 53% of married women are undergoing one form of spousal violence or the other from their husbands. However, the report also indicated that 96% of Anambra married women are allowed to decide what happens in their homes and families.

Also, the report indicated that 2% of men and 2% of women aged 15 and above have difficulties or cannot function in at least one domain of disability such as seeing, hearing, communicating, remembering or concentrating. It further stated that about 9% of women and 10% of men have some difficulties in at least one domain.

According to the report, about 20% of children have sickle cell traits and the overall sickle cell disease in Nigeria in children between the ages of six to 65 months was at 1.3% prevalence.

Presenting the report, the NPC chairman Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, represented by the federal commissioner in charge of Anambra State Chidi Ezeoke, said the survey was designed to provide data for the monitoring of population and the health situation in the country. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha for their constant supportive role and for graciously granting the NPC the opportunity to contribute its quota to national development through the generation and dissemination of credible data for national planning.

Governor Willie Obiano, who was represented by the Anambra State head of service, Barrister Harry Uduh, urged couples to learn from the NDHS report and tolerate each other for the sake of their children's future.