Making Meaning of Domestic Violence Through the Lens of Women Survivors in Kano State, Nigeria.

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Tashi Fa'iza Tijjani, Muhammad Awwal Ladan, Ahmad Rufa'i Abubakar This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5700135/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Globally, one in three women and girls have experienced violence against them, which is a fundamental violation of their human rights. The occurrence of domestic violence is prevalent in Nigerian setting, with northern Nigeria negatively contributing to the high numbers. This study explored the factors that contribute to the experience of domestic violence among women victims in Kano State, Nigeria. Methods The study utilized a qualitative research design with phenomenological approach involving in-depth interviews with eight (8) participants. Results The findings highlighted three themes emerging; financial independence and stability, navigating complex social structures and expectations in relationship, challenging stereotypes about education and violence. The study’s participants acknowledged the role of power dynamic in marital violence, despite reporting financial independence. All themes suggest strong link to cultural normalization. When men’s responsibilities as providers and women’s duties as homemakers are questioned, traditional gender roles often escalate into violence. The majority of participants believed that their partner’s educational attainment had no influence on aggressive conduct. Conclusion The study finds that domestic violence against women in Kano State, Nigeria, is linked to cultural norms supporting traditional gender roles. Effective solutions require culturally tailored interventions for survivors. Gender Studies Nursing Other Public Policy domestic-violence phenomenology domestic abuse INTRODUCTION One in three women and girls worldwide experience violence against them, which is a fundamental violation of their human rights (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021 ). Whether it is domestic abuse, sexual assault, female genital mutilation, or psychological abuse, women and girls experience violence and discrimination in every society, from the UK to the Americas to Africa (Igbolekwu et al., 2021 ). Domestic Violence, also called “domestic abuse” or “intimate partner violence”, was defined by Duvvury, ( 2022 ) as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. In this regard abuse is described as either physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person which includes any behaviours that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone (United Nations [UN], 2023 ). Domestic violence (DV) can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender and it can occur within a range of relationships including couples who are married, living together or dating as such DV affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels (UNite Working Group, 2019 ). In Nigeria, Arisukwu et al., ( 2021 ) report that domestic abuse is a common occurrence for women and girls and it is synonymous with intimate relationship violence, family violence, physical abuse, domestic abuse, or spousal abuse. Also, Odoemena, ( 2022 ) and Bassey, ( 2021 ) emphasised that DV is prominent in Nigeria as in other parts of Africa, with reported cases of DV on the high and show no signs of reduction in Nigeria, regardless of the age, tribe, religion or even social status. Data from WHO and its collaborators highlights the distressing and widespread issue of violence against women, which commences at a disturbingly young age, according to this information throughout their lives, approximately 736 million women, or one in every three, experience physical or sexual violence either from an intimate partner or from a non-partner and shockingly, this figure has shown little variation over the last decade (WHO, 2021 ). In some instances, local media report within the country indicate a high prevalence of DV, particularly in its physical form with the incidents of men beating, maiming, or even killing their female partners with frequencies of occurrence up to at least once a week (Onyedika et al., 2021). Additionally, in rare instances, women have been reported to engage in similar violent behavior towards male partners (Onyedika et.al, 2021). The prevalence and risk factors for gender-based violence in Kano State, Nigeria showed that out of the 300 female university students 58.8% have experienced GBV with 22.8%, 22.2% and 50.8% of students reporting physical, sexual or emotional violence respectively (Iliyasu et al., 2011 ). Similarly in another setting in Kano Salisu et al., ( 2019 ) revealed that 45% of women were physically abused, 35% reported being sexually abused by their partners of which some had sexual contact against their will two to five times per year. In addition to these two forms of abuse reported by Salisu and colleague, psychological abuse was also a dominant form among their population of study (Salisu et al., 2019 ). As such this study explored the complex world of women’s lives in Kano State who have directly suffered domestic violence. It aimed to identify the factors that play a role in the occurrence of domestic violence among these women by uncovering their experiential account. METHODS RESEARCH DESIGN This study utilized an inductive phenomenological approach to explore the lived experience of women survivors of domestic violence in Kano State. Phenomenology served as the foundation for both the study’s design and conceptual framework, the knowledge of the participant’s lived experiences is the philosophical goal of phenomenology (Jang et al., 2022 ). It is expected that researchers must first limit whatever preconceived notions they may have about the research topic in order to uncover the genuine essence of the lived experience (bracketing) (Jang et al., 2022 ). From a phenomenological perspective, Jang et al., ( 2022 ) also suggest that objectivity can be achieved by remaining true to the phenomenon and by focusing on the phenomenon itself rather than on its description. Therefore, in order to promote understanding, phenomenology aims to uncover the essences and meanings in the participant's experiences (Jang et al., 2022 ). Though while remaining to the foundation of phenomenology as an inductive approach (Sloan & Bowe, 2014 ), interview guide was developed using existing theories of social learning theory, theory of cycle of violence as well as theory of learned helplessness and this might be viewed as non-naturalistic or deductive approach to questioning. Nonetheless, analysis remained true to induction guided by experiential phenomenology (Sloan & Bowe, 2014 ). The aim of applying this approach was in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of lived experience of the victims/survivors of domestic violence, and it followed the guideline for qualitative research, established by the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. PARTICIPANTS AND STUDY SETTING The participants for the study were women survivors of domestic violence that are at least one (1) year post abusive relationship. The study was conducted in Kano State, Nigeria. Kano state was used because of its homogenous nature. METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION Due to the sensitive and private nature of domestic violence in relationships, data was primarily collected through one-on-one in-depth interviews. Initially, potential participants were contacted by phone, followed by one-on-one interviews that lasted between 30 and 60 minutes, conducted at a location and time that suited them. Face-to-face interviews facilitated the sharing of personal experiences regarding domestic violence. The researcher adopted a neutral stance and expressed empathy, avoiding any preconceived biases or criticism to prevent subjective judgments. All participants opted to be interviewed in their primary language which is Hausa for ease of expression. As such experts fluent in Hausa language (the common spoken local dialect) transcribed each interview verbatim, and audio recordings were transcribed within 24 hours to capture the researcher’s immediate reflections, after which they were translated into English. To maintain data quality, the researcher held regular reflective discussions with research assistants post-interview to review key findings and identify themes. Participants were encouraged to elaborate or clarify their responses, ensuring the accuracy of the information and its intended meanings. The interviewer upheld a neutral demeanour and tone to avoid influencing participants' responses. Qualitative reduction was achieved through field notes documenting the interviewer’s thoughts on domestic violence prior to data collection, maintaining a research journal, and conducting regular team meetings. Data saturation was confirmed when no new information emerged, with two additional interviews performed to validate that no new insights were found. To enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of the research, peer debriefing was conducted with two qualified and impartial peers who had no personal stake in the research topic. METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS Analysing qualitative data typically involves identifying and condensing relevant information into segments that help uncover recurring categories and patterns in participants' responses. These patterns are often characterized by cyclical and evolutionary trends rather than following a linear progression (Skjott Linneberg & Korsgaard, 2019 ). For this study, a qualitative technique of pattern coding was used as Skjott Linneberg & Korsgaard, ( 2019 ) have mentioned that in text analysis, one can identify recurring themes that unify various individual pieces of data. It is crucial to emphasize that these patterns are not causal instead, they serve as a means to identify similarities and differences within the context of an interview. The findings were analysed using inductive approach for easy interpretation and description of data. Aldaihani, ( 2022 ) recommended that the researcher begins data analysis immediately after finishing the first interview or observation, and continues to analyse the data as long as he or she is working on the research. Ultimately, the researcher opted for using manual analysis utilizing the existing features in Microsoft Word. While being mindful of Husserl's “bracketing” Sloan & Bowe, ( 2014 ) illustrate that the researcher should made an effort to maintain objectivity throughout the data analysis process by avoiding the researcher’s opinions, sentiments, and thoughts about the phenomena as well as the data’s substance. By doing this, the researcher attempted to prevent distorting, reducing or exaggerating the facts and to ascertain and comprehend the participant’s viewpoint, attitude, and emotion as much as possible from the participant's remark. QUALITATIVE RIGOUR In the context of a qualitative study, the issue of rigor or trustworthiness becomes pertinent. The study’s trustworthiness hinges on ensuring the credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability of the data, as outlined by Stahl & King ( 2020 ). ETHICAL CONSIDERATION Approval for ethical considerations was sought from the Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of Kano State Ministry of Health (NHREC/17/03/2018). In order to ensure voluntary participation, informed consent was obtained from all respondents. SAMPLE SIZE The sample size for this study was eight (8) which was reached after attaining data saturation with the participants (Creswell, 2013 ). The saturation was reached due to the homogeneous nature of the population. SAMPLING TECHNIQUE For the purpose of this research purposive sampling technique was used. Tenny et al., ( 2022 ) emphasized that the crucial factor in qualitative study is participant selection, highlighting the necessity for individuals and settings to furnish pertinent information for addressing research inquiries. RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS In-depth interview guide was used for this study, some part of the interview guide was adapted from Battered Women’s Justice Project ( 2013 ) and Rishal et al., ( 2016 ) while the other portion was developed by the researcher after extensive and thorough review of relevant and related literature. The tool was developed based on the conceptual framework which makes it non-naturalistic there by making the approach deductive. The interview guide consists of open-ended questions on factors that contribute to domestic violence experience. RESULTS For the purpose of this study the researcher divided the factors into three (3) which include economic factor, socio-cultural factors and educational factors out of which one theme emerged from each group of factors. The emerged themes are financial independence and stability from economic factors, navigating complex social structures and expectations in relationship from socio-cultural factors, and challenging stereotypes about education and violence from educational factors. Theme one: Financial independence and stability The theme emerged from one sub-theme financial independence and stability and codes which include independent, business, financially down, dependent due to young age and independent due to experience. Majority of the participants in this study are financially independent as stated by them were one of the participants stated that she became financially independent because she wanted to complete her study and her partner was not ready to help her. “During the first three years of my marriage I was dependent on him and the little allowance that I received from home monthly. I became independent as a result of the experience that I got along the way because that time I was a physiotherapy student so I have to go to lectures as well as clinical postings. Whenever I asked him for transport money, he will tell me that he doesn’t have money as such I had to be skipping school because of that. But when he got married to me, I had my personal car that I use for transporting myself to school but he managed to convince me that I should let him sell the car because of his personal problems that he needed money. ...” (Participant 7) Furthermore, majority of the participant responded in the affirmative and added a narration on whether they think power dynamic within relationship can contribute to domestic violence. They revealed that power dynamic is one of the major causes of domestic violence in their society alongside their own experience. “Of course, yes, it’s definitely a contributor [power dynamic] because I was a victim of that before. During the hard times in my previous relationship, I was the sole provider or breadwinner of the family. As I told you earlier, he was a woman-beater so I expected that since I am the sole provider now, he will have to stop that habit and start to appreciate and respect me...” (Participant 4) “Yes, from my little experience I think this is the major cause of domestic violence against women in respect to the working-class women most especially we the health workers because we tend to earn more than our partners in majority of the situations. In the process of doing what your partner was unable to do for the family you will just end up in problem because he will start to see that you are just misbehaving because you earn more than him.” (Participant 5) Theme two: Navigating complex social structures and expectations in relationship This theme emerged from five (5) sub-themes namely marital and relationship dynamic, family and social relationship, influence of upbringing on violence tendencies, gender role and expectation, societal perception and influence which also emerged from eighteen (18) codes. All of the respondent opined that the society expect the man to be the provider and decision maker while the woman should be the home maker, give birth and rare the children “In my society as I explained earlier the man is the head of the family, the decision maker and the provider of that family while the woman is just a home maker as well as being responsible for bearing and nurturing the children. If a woman tries to take decision for the family even in the absence of man that can lead to domestic violence because, it has happened during my second marriage …” (Participant 3) “The expectations are that the man should provide for the family while the woman should take care of the family. The man should make the rules, he should provide for everything including the shelter, food, healthcare services etc. while the woman should bear the children, rare them, take care of them, take care of the man of the house as well as looking after the house in general and woman is supposed to abide by the rules and regulations set by the man.” (Participant 4) The theme also captures one of the most important part of this work which is the influence of upbringing on violence tendencies. "Smiles… Yes, I heard that his father used to beat his mother whenever she did something wrong and he also use to starve her because he will not provide her with food, usually it is her elder brother that provided her with food. It was said that these issues happen on several occasions. My ex-partner was an eye witness to all what his father has been subjecting his mother to since from his childhood to adulthood.” (Participant 1) Hmmm… Several times, [the issue of father-in-law hitting mother-in-law] in fact I have started to see domestic violence as a hereditary disease. “This is because his father was a recurring woman hitter because his father only stopped beating his mother when my ex-partner was around 22 years …” (Participant 4) Furthermore, the theme captures another important aspect of this study on whether these victims have ever seen or come across a case of domestic violence during childhood in which more than half of the participant admit hearing and seeing a case during childhood. “Yes, in our neighborhood we had a new couple were the husband and the wife were always fighting all because of a marriage gift of food stuffs which were expected from the bride family after the wedding but was not provided because they could not afford it.” (Participant 8) In addition, the theme also captures on the significance of gender role assignment as a contributor to domestic violence where all of the participant opined to that “Since time immemorial Hausa man does not support domestic violence because he attached outmost importance to marriage but, the problem lies with traditional gender roles where men are pampered the most.” (Participant 1) “My culture always favours men and you see that traditional gender role have immensely contributed to domestic violence by instilling in to our men the attitude of they are always right and we women are the ones at fault by default and we need to be coerced through several ways including using force such as beating.” (Participant 2) “Hausa culture in most cases make women to accept domestic violence because people will always be telling you that you have to be submissive to your partner and even when he is wrong you have to consider that wrong as right…” (Participant 5) Theme Three: Challenging Stereotypes About Education and Violence This theme emerged from two sub-themes role of education and violence, and challenge to stereotypes. More than half of the participants believe that their partners level of education has no connection with their violent behaviours when they were asked a question on do, they think that their partners were violent because of their level of education? “Actually, for me I will say no, all the three ex-partners of mine are well educated I just relate that to the upbringing process of the man.” (Participant 3) The theme also captures the participants experience of domestic violence in relation to their own level of education where all the participant opined that there is no relationship “Actually, I don’t think my level of education have anything to do with the abuse that I have faced during that time.” (Participant 1) “No because he has been encouraging me to even go back to school and further my education.” (Participant 8) DISCUSSION The findings reveal that domestic violence is influenced by a complex interplay of financial independence, societal norms, and educational factors. Many financially self-sufficient participants acknowledged that power dynamics within relationships still contribute to domestic violence, supporting studies by Ajayi & Airewele, ( 2018 ) and Adu, ( 2020 ), which highlight abuse as a means to reassert male dominance. This contrasts with research by Gillum, ( 2019 ), which associates poverty with higher rates of domestic violence, especially in marginalized communities with cultural practices like early marriage. Igbolekwu & Nwogu, ( 2021 ) also emphasized that economic dependence often fuels abuse, showing that patriarchal norms and cultural expectations are key drivers, regardless of financial status. In contrast, most participants did not associate educational levels either their own or their partners with experiences of domestic violence. This opposes findings from studies like Kalokhe et al., ( 2018 ) and Brishty, ( 2023 ), which link lower educational attainment in male partners to increased violence. Larreguy, ( 2023 ) research in Tanzania also found that higher education significantly reduced domestic violence, suggesting that the relationship between education and violence is context-specific. These differences underscore the need for culturally sensitive interventions that consider broader societal and structural factors. Moreover, societal norms that enforce rigid gender roles where men are providers and women are confined to homemaking significantly contribute to domestic violence, as participants linked these roles to the root cause of abuse. Studies by Adu, ( 2020 ) and Bhandari & Hughes, ( 2017 ) confirm that strict gender roles and societal acceptance of practices like wife beating perpetuate domestic violence. Childhood exposure to domestic violence, highlighted by many participants, further reinforces the cycle of abuse, as noted by Rodriguez & Venzor, ( 2022 ). This generational transmission of violence suggests the need to challenge entrenched societal roles and provide comprehensive interventions to address domestic violence at its core. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this study’s findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive interventions that recognize the intricate interplay between education, power dynamics, and domestic violence. By addressing these issues comprehensively, society can better support survivors and work towards preventing future instances of abuse. Declarations Competing Interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Author Contributions FT contributed to the conceptualization, writing original draft preparation, manuscript writing, data collection and analysis. MA contributed to methodology and data analysis and also served as the final reviewer and editor. 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Quality and Quantity , 48 (3), 1291–1303. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-013-9835-3 Stahl, N. A., & King, J. R. (2020). Expanding Approaches for Research: Understanding and Using Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research. Journal of Developmental Education , 44 (1), 26–28. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483329574 Tenny, S., Brannan, J. M., & Brannan., G. D. (2022). Qualitative Study . National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470395/ UNite Working Group. (2019). A Resource Book on Intimate partner violence for United Nations Staff in Asia . United Nations [UN]. (2023). What Is Domestic Abuse? https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse#:~:text=Abuse is physical%2C sexual%2C emotional,%2C injure%2C or wound someone. WHO. (2021). Devastatingly pervasive: 1 in 3 women globally experience violence . https://www.who.int/news/item/09-03-2021-devastatingly-pervasive-1-in-3-women-globally-experience-violence World Health Organization [WHO]. (2021). Violence against women. In World Health Organization . https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5700135","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":393756597,"identity":"5a24c763-cbff-4cfb-9a23-ee2bf3468c3b","order_by":0,"name":"Tashi Fa'iza Tijjani","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA+ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC9gYwdQCIeRgOfABSbOwEtPAcgGiRAGk5OAOkhZkULcw8IDZBLeyHDz7mqblTx99/9uBhm1/b5PmYGRg/fMzBo4UnLdlwxrFnEhI38hIO5/bdNmxjZmCWnLkNtxZ7hhwziQ9shyUYbvAYHM7tuc0I1MLGzItHCw//++8/Ev4dlpA/f8bgsGXPbXvCWiRy2Bg+th2WMDiQY3CY4cftRCK0PDOWnNl3WHLjjRyDg70Nt5PbmBmb8fqFhz/54Weeb4f55c6fMf7w489t2/ntzQc/fMSjBRUwtoHJBmLVg8AfUhSPglEwCkbBSAEAcb5VNEVBIA8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0501-587X","institution":"College of Nursing Science, Kano State.","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tashi","middleName":"Fa'iza","lastName":"Tijjani","suffix":""},{"id":393757131,"identity":"23790029-7f4c-4fbd-ba4c-686564d161ac","order_by":1,"name":"Muhammad Awwal Ladan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bayero University Kano","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Muhammad","middleName":"Awwal","lastName":"Ladan","suffix":""},{"id":393757132,"identity":"2e8c6533-1a9f-4612-97fc-4f31dc5d9b6c","order_by":2,"name":"Ahmad Rufa'i Abubakar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bayero University Kano","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ahmad","middleName":"Rufa'i","lastName":"Abubakar","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-12-23 13:44:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5700135/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5700135/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":72263230,"identity":"2cc3ecfa-4325-4b28-aed8-bf7aab6c9fbb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-24 11:18:00","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":371227,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5700135/v1/dc38335c-1306-4207-a9db-43b98b6c8cfc.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaking Meaning of Domestic Violence Through the Lens of Women Survivors in Kano State, Nigeria.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eOne in three women and girls worldwide experience violence against them, which is a fundamental violation of their human rights (World Health Organization [WHO], \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Whether it is domestic abuse, sexual assault, female genital mutilation, or psychological abuse, women and girls experience violence and discrimination in every society, from the UK to the Americas to Africa (Igbolekwu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Domestic Violence, also called \u0026ldquo;domestic abuse\u0026rdquo; or \u0026ldquo;intimate partner violence\u0026rdquo;, was defined by Duvvury, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e) as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. In this regard abuse is described as either physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person which includes any behaviours that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone (United Nations [UN], \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Domestic violence (DV) can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender and it can occur within a range of relationships including couples who are married, living together or dating as such DV affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels (UNite Working Group, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). In Nigeria, Arisukwu et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) report that domestic abuse is a common occurrence for women and girls and it is synonymous with intimate relationship violence, family violence, physical abuse, domestic abuse, or spousal abuse.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAlso, Odoemena, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e) and Bassey, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) emphasised that DV is prominent in Nigeria as in other parts of Africa, with reported cases of DV on the high and show no signs of reduction in Nigeria, regardless of the age, tribe, religion or even social status. Data from WHO and its collaborators highlights the distressing and widespread issue of violence against women, which commences at a disturbingly young age, according to this information throughout their lives, approximately 736\u0026nbsp;million women, or one in every three, experience physical or sexual violence either from an intimate partner or from a non-partner and shockingly, this figure has shown little variation over the last decade (WHO, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). In some instances, local media report within the country indicate a high prevalence of DV, particularly in its physical form with the incidents of men beating, maiming, or even killing their female partners with frequencies of occurrence up to at least once a week (Onyedika et al., 2021). Additionally, in rare instances, women have been reported to engage in similar violent behavior towards male partners (Onyedika et.al, 2021).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe prevalence and risk factors for gender-based violence in Kano State, Nigeria showed that out of the 300 female university students 58.8% have experienced GBV with 22.8%, 22.2% and 50.8% of students reporting physical, sexual or emotional violence respectively (Iliyasu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Similarly in another setting in Kano Salisu et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) revealed that 45% of women were physically abused, 35% reported being sexually abused by their partners of which some had sexual contact against their will two to five times per year. In addition to these two forms of abuse reported by Salisu and colleague, psychological abuse was also a dominant form among their population of study (Salisu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). As such this study explored the complex world of women\u0026rsquo;s lives in Kano State who have directly suffered domestic violence. It aimed to identify the factors that play a role in the occurrence of domestic violence among these women by uncovering their experiential account.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"METHODS","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eRESEARCH DESIGN\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study utilized an inductive phenomenological approach to explore the lived experience of women survivors of domestic violence in Kano State. Phenomenology served as the foundation for both the study\u0026rsquo;s design and conceptual framework, the knowledge of the participant\u0026rsquo;s lived experiences is the philosophical goal of phenomenology (Jang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). It is expected that researchers must first limit whatever preconceived notions they may have about the research topic in order to uncover the genuine essence of the lived experience (bracketing) (Jang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). From a phenomenological perspective, Jang et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e) also suggest that objectivity can be achieved by remaining true to the phenomenon and by focusing on the phenomenon itself rather than on its description. Therefore, in order to promote understanding, phenomenology aims to uncover the essences and meanings in the participant's experiences (Jang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThough while remaining to the foundation of phenomenology as an inductive approach (Sloan \u0026amp; Bowe, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e), interview guide was developed using existing theories of social learning theory, theory of cycle of violence as well as theory of learned helplessness and this might be viewed as non-naturalistic or deductive approach to questioning. Nonetheless, analysis remained true to induction guided by experiential phenomenology (Sloan \u0026amp; Bowe, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). The aim of applying this approach was in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of lived experience of the victims/survivors of domestic violence, and it followed the guideline for qualitative research, established by the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePARTICIPANTS AND STUDY SETTING\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe participants for the study were women survivors of domestic violence that are at least one (1) year post abusive relationship. The study was conducted in Kano State, Nigeria. Kano state was used because of its homogenous nature.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMETHOD OF DATA COLLECTION\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to the sensitive and private nature of domestic violence in relationships, data was primarily collected through one-on-one in-depth interviews. Initially, potential participants were contacted by phone, followed by one-on-one interviews that lasted between 30 and 60 minutes, conducted at a location and time that suited them. Face-to-face interviews facilitated the sharing of personal experiences regarding domestic violence. The researcher adopted a neutral stance and expressed empathy, avoiding any preconceived biases or criticism to prevent subjective judgments. All participants opted to be interviewed in their primary language which is Hausa for ease of expression. As such experts fluent in Hausa language (the common spoken local dialect) transcribed each interview verbatim, and audio recordings were transcribed within 24 hours to capture the researcher\u0026rsquo;s immediate reflections, after which they were translated into English.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo maintain data quality, the researcher held regular reflective discussions with research assistants post-interview to review key findings and identify themes. Participants were encouraged to elaborate or clarify their responses, ensuring the accuracy of the information and its intended meanings. The interviewer upheld a neutral demeanour and tone to avoid influencing participants' responses. Qualitative reduction was achieved through field notes documenting the interviewer\u0026rsquo;s thoughts on domestic violence prior to data collection, maintaining a research journal, and conducting regular team meetings. Data saturation was confirmed when no new information emerged, with two additional interviews performed to validate that no new insights were found.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of the research, peer debriefing was conducted with two qualified and impartial peers who had no personal stake in the research topic.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMETHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnalysing qualitative data typically involves identifying and condensing relevant information into segments that help uncover recurring categories and patterns in participants' responses. These patterns are often characterized by cyclical and evolutionary trends rather than following a linear progression (Skjott Linneberg \u0026amp; Korsgaard, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). For this study, a qualitative technique of pattern coding was used as Skjott Linneberg \u0026amp; Korsgaard, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) have mentioned that in text analysis, one can identify recurring themes that unify various individual pieces of data. It is crucial to emphasize that these patterns are not causal instead, they serve as a means to identify similarities and differences within the context of an interview. The findings were analysed using inductive approach for easy interpretation and description of data.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAldaihani, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e) recommended that the researcher begins data analysis immediately after finishing the first interview or observation, and continues to analyse the data as long as he or she is working on the research. Ultimately, the researcher opted for using manual analysis utilizing the existing features in Microsoft Word.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhile being mindful of Husserl's \u0026ldquo;bracketing\u0026rdquo; Sloan \u0026amp; Bowe, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e) illustrate that the researcher should made an effort to maintain \u003cem\u003eobjectivity\u003c/em\u003e throughout the data analysis process by avoiding the researcher\u0026rsquo;s opinions, sentiments, and thoughts about the phenomena as well as the data\u0026rsquo;s substance. By doing this, the researcher attempted to prevent distorting, reducing or exaggerating the facts and to ascertain and comprehend the participant\u0026rsquo;s viewpoint, attitude, and emotion as much as possible from the participant's remark.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQUALITATIVE RIGOUR\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the context of a qualitative study, the issue of rigor or trustworthiness becomes pertinent. The study\u0026rsquo;s trustworthiness hinges on ensuring the credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability of the data, as outlined by Stahl \u0026amp; King (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eETHICAL CONSIDERATION\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e Approval for ethical considerations was sought from the Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of Kano State Ministry of Health (NHREC/17/03/2018). In order to ensure voluntary participation, informed consent was obtained from all respondents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSAMPLE SIZE\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sample size for this study was eight (8) which was reached after attaining data saturation with the participants (Creswell, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). The saturation was reached due to the homogeneous nature of the population.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSAMPLING TECHNIQUE\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the purpose of this research purposive sampling technique was used. Tenny et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e) emphasized that the crucial factor in qualitative study is participant selection, highlighting the necessity for individuals and settings to furnish pertinent information for addressing research inquiries.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eRESEARCH INSTRUMENTS\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn-depth interview guide was used for this study, some part of the interview guide was adapted from Battered Women\u0026rsquo;s Justice Project (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e) and Rishal et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e) while the other portion was developed by the researcher after extensive and thorough review of relevant and related literature. The tool was developed based on the conceptual framework which makes it non-naturalistic there by making the approach deductive. The interview guide consists of open-ended questions on factors that contribute to domestic violence experience.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"RESULTS","content":"\u003cp\u003eFor the purpose of this study the researcher divided the factors into three (3) which include economic factor, socio-cultural factors and educational factors out of which one theme emerged from each group of factors. The emerged themes are financial independence and stability from economic factors, navigating complex social structures and expectations in relationship from socio-cultural factors, and challenging stereotypes about education and violence from educational factors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTheme one: Financial independence and stability\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe theme emerged from one sub-theme financial independence and stability and codes which include independent, business, financially down, dependent due to young age and independent due to experience. Majority of the participants in this study are financially independent as stated by them were one of the participants stated that she became financially independent because she wanted to complete her study and her partner was not ready to help her.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;During the first three years of my marriage I was dependent on him and the little allowance that I received from home monthly. I became independent as a result of the experience that I got along the way because that time I was a physiotherapy student so I have to go to lectures as well as clinical postings. Whenever I asked him for transport money, he will tell me that he doesn\u0026rsquo;t have money as such I had to be skipping school because of that. But when he got married to me, I had my personal car that I use for transporting myself to school but he managed to convince me that I should let him sell the car because of his personal problems that he needed money. ...\u0026rdquo; (Participant 7)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Furthermore, majority of the participant responded in the affirmative and added a narration on whether they think power dynamic within relationship can contribute to domestic violence. They revealed that power dynamic is one of the major causes of domestic violence in their society alongside their own experience.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Of course, yes, it\u0026rsquo;s definitely a contributor [power dynamic] because I was a victim of that before. During the hard times in my previous relationship, I was the sole provider or breadwinner of the family. As I told you earlier, he was a woman-beater so I expected that since I am the sole provider now, he will have to stop that habit and start to appreciate and respect me...\u0026rdquo; (Participant 4)\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Yes, from my little experience I think this is the major cause of domestic violence against women in respect to the working-class women most especially we the health workers because we tend to earn more than our partners in majority of the situations. In the process of doing what your partner was unable to do for the family you will just end up in problem because he will start to see that you are just misbehaving because you earn more than him.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 5)\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTheme two: Navigating complex social structures and expectations in relationship\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis theme emerged from five (5) sub-themes namely marital and relationship dynamic, family and social relationship, influence of upbringing on violence tendencies, gender role and expectation, societal perception and influence which also emerged from eighteen (18) codes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll of the respondent opined that the society expect the man to be the provider and decision maker while the woman should be the home maker, give birth and rare the children\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;In my society as I explained earlier the man is the head of the family, the decision maker and the provider of that family while the woman is just a home maker as well as being responsible for bearing and nurturing the children. If a woman tries to take decision for the family even in the absence of man that can lead to domestic violence because, it has happened during my second marriage \u0026hellip;\u0026rdquo; (Participant 3)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;The expectations are that the man should provide for the family while the woman should take care of the family. The man should make the rules, he should provide for everything including the shelter, food, healthcare services etc. while the woman should bear the children, rare them, take care of them, take care of the man of the house as well as looking after the house in general and woman is supposed to abide by the rules and regulations set by the man.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 4)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe theme also captures one of the most important part of this work which is the influence of upbringing on violence tendencies.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\"Smiles\u0026hellip; Yes, I heard that his father used to beat his mother whenever she did something wrong and he also use to starve her because he will not provide her with food, usually it is her elder brother that provided her with food. It was said that these issues happen on several occasions. My ex-partner was an eye witness to all what his father has been subjecting his mother to since from his childhood to adulthood.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 1)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eHmmm\u0026hellip; Several times, [the issue of father-in-law hitting mother-in-law] in fact I have started to see domestic violence as a hereditary disease. \u0026ldquo;This is because his father was a recurring woman hitter because his father only stopped beating his mother when my ex-partner was around 22 years \u0026hellip;\u0026rdquo; (Participant 4)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurthermore, the theme captures another important aspect of this study on whether these victims have ever seen or come across a case of domestic violence during childhood in which more than half of the participant admit hearing and seeing a case during childhood.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Yes, in our neighborhood we had a new couple were the husband and the wife were always fighting all because of a marriage gift of food stuffs which were expected from the bride family after the wedding but was not provided because they could not afford it.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 8)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn addition, the theme also captures on the significance of gender role assignment as a contributor to domestic violence where all of the participant opined to that\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Since time immemorial Hausa man does not support domestic violence because he attached outmost importance to marriage but, the problem lies with traditional gender roles where men are pampered the most.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 1)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;My culture always favours men and you see that traditional gender role have immensely contributed to domestic violence by instilling in to our men the attitude of they are always right and we women are the ones at fault by default and we need to be coerced through several ways including using force such as beating.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 2)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Hausa culture in most cases make women to accept domestic violence because people will always be telling you that you have to be submissive to your partner and even when he is wrong you have to consider that wrong as right\u0026hellip;\u0026rdquo; (Participant 5)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTheme Three: Challenging Stereotypes About Education and Violence\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis theme emerged from two sub-themes role of education and violence, and challenge to stereotypes. More than half of the participants believe that their partners level of education has no connection with their violent behaviours when they were asked a question on do, they think that their partners were violent because of their level of education?\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Actually, for me I will say no, all the three ex-partners of mine are well educated I just relate that to the upbringing process of the man.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 3)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe theme also captures the participants experience of domestic violence in relation to their own level of education where all the participant opined that there is no relationship\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Actually, I don\u0026rsquo;t think my level of education have anything to do with the abuse that I have faced during that time.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 1)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;No because he has been encouraging me to even go back to school and further my education.\u0026rdquo; (Participant 8)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe findings reveal that domestic violence is influenced by a complex interplay of financial independence, societal norms, and educational factors. Many financially self-sufficient participants acknowledged that power dynamics within relationships still contribute to domestic violence, supporting studies by Ajayi \u0026amp; Airewele, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) and Adu, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e), which highlight abuse as a means to reassert male dominance. This contrasts with research by Gillum, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e), which associates poverty with higher rates of domestic violence, especially in marginalized communities with cultural practices like early marriage. Igbolekwu \u0026amp; Nwogu, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) also emphasized that economic dependence often fuels abuse, showing that patriarchal norms and cultural expectations are key drivers, regardless of financial status.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e In contrast, most participants did not associate educational levels either their own or their partners with experiences of domestic violence. This opposes findings from studies like Kalokhe et al., (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) and Brishty, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e), which link lower educational attainment in male partners to increased violence. Larreguy, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e) research in Tanzania also found that higher education significantly reduced domestic violence, suggesting that the relationship between education and violence is context-specific. These differences underscore the need for culturally sensitive interventions that consider broader societal and structural factors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoreover, societal norms that enforce rigid gender roles where men are providers and women are confined to homemaking significantly contribute to domestic violence, as participants linked these roles to the root cause of abuse. Studies by Adu, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) and Bhandari \u0026amp; Hughes, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e) confirm that strict gender roles and societal acceptance of practices like wife beating perpetuate domestic violence. Childhood exposure to domestic violence, highlighted by many participants, further reinforces the cycle of abuse, as noted by Rodriguez \u0026amp; Venzor, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). This generational transmission of violence suggests the need to challenge entrenched societal roles and provide comprehensive interventions to address domestic violence at its core.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn conclusion, this study\u0026rsquo;s findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive interventions that recognize the intricate interplay between education, power dynamics, and domestic violence. By addressing these issues comprehensively, society can better support survivors and work towards preventing future instances of abuse.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eCompeting Interests\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.\u003c/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contributions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFT contributed to the conceptualization, writing original draft preparation, manuscript writing, data collection and analysis. MA contributed to methodology and data analysis and also served as the final reviewer and editor. AR participated in manuscript writing, project administration and final draft review.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability Statement\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article. Any additional data that support the study\u0026rsquo;s findings are available from the corresponding author upon request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdu, M. A. (2020). \u003cem\u003eDomestic violence in ghana\u003c/em\u003e (Issue March) [University of Helsinki]. https://helda.helsinki.fi/items/06ddb110-07cd-487e-b341-fe93c17c15f0\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAjayi, L. A., \u0026amp; Airewele, P. S. (2018). Key Triggers of domestic violence in Ghana: a victim centered analysis. \u003cem\u003eAfrican Population Studies\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e32\u003c/em\u003e(1). https://doi.org/DOI: https://doi.org/10.11564/32-1- 1181\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAldaihani, F. M. (2022). \u003cem\u003eJustification for Adopting Qualitative Research Method , Research\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eJanuary\u003c/em\u003e. https://doi.org/10.37227/JIBM-2021-09-1494\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArisukwu, O., Igbolekwu, C., Adebisi, T., \u0026amp; Akindele, F. (2021). Heliyon Perception of domestic violence among rural women in Kuje. \u003cem\u003eHeliyon\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e7\u003c/em\u003e(2), e06303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06303\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBassey, R. (2021, September 26). domestic violence top actions action against women in Nigeria. \u003cem\u003eDaily Trust\u003c/em\u003e. https://dailytrust.com/domestic-violence-tops-action-against-women-in-nigeria/\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBattered Women\u0026rsquo;s Justice Project. (2013). Domestic violence interview guide. \u003cem\u003eBattered Women\u0026rsquo;s Justice Project\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBhandari, S., \u0026amp; Hughes, J. C. (2017). Lived Experiences of Women Facing Domestic Violence in Culturally Specific Ways in Which Women Experience DV in India. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Social Work in the Global Community\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e(1), 13\u0026ndash;27. https://doi.org/10.5590/JSWGC.2017.02.1.02\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrishty, M. A. (2023). \u003cem\u003eThe association between husband / partner \u0026rsquo; s level of education and lifetime physical domestic violence against women aged between 15-49 years in Pakistan : Evidence from Pakistan Demography and Health Survey 2017-18\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreswell, J. W. (2013). \u003cem\u003eQualitative Inquiry and research design choosing among five approaches\u003c/em\u003e (3rd Ed). Sage Publications.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDuvvury, N. (2022). Examining Domestic Violence Around the World: The Cost of Doing Nothing. In \u003cem\u003eUnited Nations\u003c/em\u003e. https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/examining-domestic-violence-around-world-cost-doing-nothing\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGillum, T. L. (2019). The intersection of intimate partner violence and poverty in black Communities. \u003cem\u003eAggression and Violent Behaviour\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e46\u003c/em\u003e, 37\u0026ndash;44. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2019.01.008.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgbolekwu, C. O., Arusukwu, O., Nwogu, J. N., Rasak, B., Asamu, F., \u0026amp; Osueke, N. O. (2021). \u003cem\u003eDomestic Violence against Women in the Nigerian Rural Context Domestic Journal of International Women \u0026rsquo; s Studies Domestic Violence against Women in the Nigerian Rural Context\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eFebruary\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgbolekwu, C. O., \u0026amp; Nwogu, J. N. (2021). Journal of International Women \u0026rsquo; s Studies Domestic Violence against Women in the Nigerian Rural Context. \u003cem\u003eJournal of International Women\u0026rsquo;s Studies\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e22\u003c/em\u003e(1), 226\u0026ndash;245. https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol22/iss1/14\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIliyasu, Z., Abubakar, I. S., Babashani, M., \u0026amp; Galadanci, H. S. (2011). Domestic Violence among Women Living with HIV / AIDS in Kano ,. \u003cem\u003eAfrican Journal of Reproductive Health\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e15\u003c/em\u003e(September), 41\u0026ndash;50. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22574491/\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJang, H.-Y. ;, Yang, J.-E. ;, Shin, Y.-S., Jang, H.-Y., Yang, J.-E., \u0026amp; Shin, Y.-S. (2022). \u003cem\u003eCitation: A Phenomenological Study of Nurses\u0026rsquo; Experience in Caring for A Phenomenological Study of Nurses\u0026rsquo; Experience in Caring for COVID-19 Patients\u003c/em\u003e. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKalokhe, A., Stephenson, R., Rio, C. Del, Paranjape, A., Rio, C., Sahay, S., Aids, N., Inst, R., Kalokhe, A. S., Iyer, S. R., Kolhe, A. R., \u0026amp; Dhayarkar, S. (2018). \u003cem\u003eCorrelates of domestic violence experience among recently-married women residing in slums in Correlates of domestic violence experience among recently-married women residing in slums in Pune , India\u003c/em\u003e. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195152\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarreguy, H. A. (2023). \u003cem\u003eThe Effect of Education on Intimate Partner Violence : Evidence from an Education Reform in Tanzania\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOdoemena, C. (2022, April 13). The hidden effect of domestic violence. \u003cem\u003ePunch News\u003c/em\u003e. https://punchng.com/the-hidden-effects-of-domestic-violence/\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnyedika Agbedo, Daniel Anazia, Tobi Awodipe, I. T.-O. \u0026amp; M. D. (2021, February 27). Domestic violence: Why Nigeria is experiencing an upsurge. \u003cem\u003eGuardian Nigeria News\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRishal, P., Joshi, S. K., Lukasse, M., Schei, B., Swahnberg, K., \u0026amp; Group, on behalf of A. S. (2016). \u0026lsquo;They just walk away\u0026rsquo; \u0026ndash; women\u0026rsquo;s perception of being silenced by antenatal health workers: a qualitative study on women survivors of domestic violence in Nepal. \u003cem\u003eGlobal Health Action\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e9\u003c/em\u003e(1), 2\u0026ndash;3. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v9.31838\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRodriguez, A., \u0026amp; Venzor, C. L. (2022). \u003cem\u003eThe impacts of exposure to domestic violence in childhood that leads to experiencing violence in future intimate partner relationships\u003c/em\u003e [California State University-San Bernardino]. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/1356\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSalisu, A., Bello, B. A., Umar, N. Y., \u0026amp; Yahaya, M. (2019). Epidemiological Survey to Assess the Prevalence and Consequences of Domestic Violence among Married Women in Zage , Kano , Nigeria Department of Chemistry Sa \u0026rsquo; adatu Rimi College of Education , Kano State. \u003cem\u003eTexila International Journal of Psychology\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e4\u003c/em\u003e(1), 1\u0026ndash;10. https://doi.org/10.21522/TIJPY.2016.04.01.Art002\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSkjott Linneberg, M., \u0026amp; Korsgaard, S. (2019). Coding qualitative data: a synthesis guiding the novice. \u003cem\u003eQualitative Research Journal\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e19\u003c/em\u003e(3), 259\u0026ndash;270. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-12-2018-0012\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSloan, A., \u0026amp; Bowe, B. (2014). Phenomenology and hermeneutic phenomenology: The philosophy, the methodologies, and using hermeneuology to investigate lecturers\u0026rsquo; experienctic phenomenes of curriculum design. \u003cem\u003eQuality and Quantity\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e48\u003c/em\u003e(3), 1291\u0026ndash;1303. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-013-9835-3\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStahl, N. A., \u0026amp; King, J. R. (2020). Expanding Approaches for Research: Understanding and Using Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Developmental Education\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e44\u003c/em\u003e(1), 26\u0026ndash;28. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483329574\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTenny, S., Brannan, J. M., \u0026amp; Brannan., G. D. (2022). \u003cem\u003eQualitative Study\u003c/em\u003e. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470395/\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUNite Working Group. (2019). \u003cem\u003eA Resource Book on Intimate partner violence for United Nations Staff in Asia\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnited Nations [UN]. (2023). \u003cem\u003eWhat Is Domestic Abuse?\u003c/em\u003e https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse#:~:text=Abuse is physical%2C sexual%2C emotional,%2C injure%2C or wound someone.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWHO. (2021). \u003cem\u003eDevastatingly pervasive: 1 in 3 women globally experience violence\u003c/em\u003e. https://www.who.int/news/item/09-03-2021-devastatingly-pervasive-1-in-3-women-globally-experience-violence\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorld Health Organization [WHO]. (2021). Violence against women. In \u003cem\u003eWorld Health Organization\u003c/em\u003e. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"domestic-violence, phenomenology, domestic abuse","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5700135/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5700135/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlobally, one in three women and girls have experienced violence against them, which is a fundamental violation of their human rights. The occurrence of domestic violence is prevalent in Nigerian setting, with northern Nigeria negatively contributing to the high numbers. This study explored the factors that contribute to the experience of domestic violence among women victims in Kano State, Nigeria.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study utilized a qualitative research design with phenomenological approach involving in-depth interviews with eight (8) participants.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings highlighted three themes emerging; financial independence and stability, navigating complex social structures and expectations in relationship, challenging stereotypes about education and violence. The study\u0026rsquo;s participants acknowledged the role of power dynamic in marital violence, despite reporting financial independence. All themes suggest strong link to cultural normalization. When men\u0026rsquo;s responsibilities as providers and women\u0026rsquo;s duties as homemakers are questioned, traditional gender roles often escalate into violence. The majority of participants believed that their partner\u0026rsquo;s educational attainment had no influence on aggressive conduct.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study finds that domestic violence against women in Kano State, Nigeria, is linked to cultural norms supporting traditional gender roles. Effective solutions require culturally tailored interventions for survivors.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Making Meaning of Domestic Violence Through the Lens of Women Survivors in Kano State, Nigeria.","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-12-24 11:09:51","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5700135/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"c1f5f412-2956-419e-b877-6e931de5f657","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 24th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":42003628,"name":"Gender Studies"},{"id":42003629,"name":"Nursing"},{"id":42003630,"name":"Other Public Policy"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-12-24T11:09:51+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-12-24 11:09:51","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5700135","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5700135","identity":"rs-5700135","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}