Sexual Negotiation and Power Imbalance Influencing Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Nigerian Urban Slums

Abstract This study looks at the complexity of sexual negotiation in the context of gender inequality and power inequalities in patriarchal societies, using Nigeria as an example. It emphasizes the necessity of knowing the risks and problems that adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) confront in these contexts, including their vulnerability to intimate partner abuse. The study dives into issues surrounding the negotiation of safe sex among AGYW and its impact on the possibility of intimate partner abuse using an anthropological approach and qualitative methodologies such as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Some of the most important things that were found were the environmental factors that make the power dynamics between AGYW and their partners unequal, the prevalence of androcentric bias in sexual decision-making and family planning, and how these power struggles lead to gender-based violence, such as physical harm and injury. The study recommends assisting young people in developing a culture of respect in sexual relationships and negotiations, which aligns with Nigeria's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.6.1 and is critical for promoting equality and protecting the well-being of AGYW.