Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It stems from unequal power relationships and deep-seated cultural norms. In Nigerian healthcare settings, nurses encounter various manifestations of this violence daily, often disguised as somatic complaints. Recognizing these patterns requires looking beyond physical injuries to understand the systemic context of the abuse.
Domestic violence occurs within the domestic sphere, involving family members or household inhabitants. Intimate partner violence (IPV) specifically describes behavior by an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm, including acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, and controlling behaviours.
Non-physical forms of abuse inflict deep psychological scars that often take longer to heal than broken bones. Emotional abuse attacks a person's self-worth through constant criticism, threats, and intimidation. Psychological abuse involves inducing fear, isolating the victim from support systems, and undermining their sanity. Nurses must treat these invisible wounds with the same urgency as acute trauma.
Sexual violence encompasses any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or other act directed against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim. This includes rape, attempted rape, unwanted sexual touching, and forced marriage. In clinical settings, the management of sexual assault survivors requires rapid forensic documentation, provision of emergency contraception, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention.
Gender-based violence in Nigeria is heavily influenced by patriarchal traditions, cultural norms, and economic inequalities. Practices such as widowhood rites, female genital mutilation (FGM), and forced child marriages are sustained by traditional beliefs that subordinate women. Furthermore, economic dependency forces many victims to stay in abusive environments because they lack the means to survive independently.
Nurses occupy a frontline position for identifying survivors of gender-based violence. Effective clinical response demands a non-judgmental attitude, guaranteed privacy, and thorough documentation. Healthcare professionals must screen patients routinely, recognize red flags like frequent unexplained injuries, and offer confidential referrals to social services, legal aid, and psychological counseling.