Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing www.iiste.org ISSN 2422-8419 An International Peer-reviewed Journal Vol.71, 2020 18 Domestic Violence and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among Women in Ekiti State, Nigeria Eloh,Modupe Mary College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria Akindutire, Isaac Olusola Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria Abstract Prior studies have shown that women who experience domestic violence are at higher risk of developing post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but this had not been clearly observed among women in Ekiti State. This study investigated domestic violence and PTSD with the purpose of finding out strategies that could help in reducing the occurrences. The study was a descriptive research of the survey type. The sample consisted of 2100 women in Ekiti State. The sample was selected through Multistage sampling procedure. An adapted close-ended questionnaire was used to measure the variables investigated. Face and content validity of the instrument were ensured. Construct validity yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.81. Reliability of the instrument was ensured and a coefficient of 0.85 obtained. Research questions were answered descriptively and hypotheses were tested using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 level of significance.Findings showed that 37.9% women experienced physical violence, 40.8% experienced sexual violence and 43% experienced psychological violence in Ekiti State. Further finding showed 44.3% of women in Ekiti State exhibited symptoms of post- traumatic stress disorder. Education of children and young people to achieving generational change in violent behaviour was the most preferred strategy in preventing domestic violence among women in Ekiti State. There was significant relationship between physical, sexual and psychological violence, and post-traumatic stress disorder among women in Ekiti State.Healthy relationship education targeted at disrupting the developmental pathways towards domestic violence should be developed and implemented in health education curriculum, at primary and secondary school levels. Keywords: domestic violence; post-traumatic stress disorder; prevention; strategies; women DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/71-04 Publication date: February 29 th 2020 Introduction Domestic violence is a life-threatening problem that may primarily affect women and girls. Domestic violence may be exhibited in different forms, such as, physical assault, sexual assault, emotional abuse, rape, molestation, battering, corporal punishment, deprivation of rights and traditional practices that are harmful to women. It often has serious long-term consequences for the individuals involved, their families, communities, and society at large. Domestic violence against women is now recognized as a problem of global magnitude, owing to its detrimental consequences on the health, social and economic welfare of women and their children (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2010). Domestic violence has been defined by WHO (1997), as the range of sexually, psychologically and physically coercive acts used against adult and adolescent women by current or former male intimate partners. Existing literature suggest that physical, sexual and psychological violence co-exist. Physical violence may often be accompanied by sexual violence, and likely to be accompanied by psychological violence. Physical violence involves being pushed or shoved, slapped or having objects thrown at the victim, being kicked, beaten or dragged. Sexual violence includes unwelcome touches in erogenous zones, attempted rape, being raped and embarrassed by unwanted sexual jokes or comments, while psychological violence involves being criticized and publicly embarrassed, verbally insulted and threatened or experiencing demeaning remarks (WHO, 2012). Women who experience domestic violence may suffer a range of health problems and their ability to participate in public life may diminish. This could also impoverish women and their families. Global estimates (WHO, 2017), indicated that about 1 in 3 (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence and most of these violence were perpetrated by intimate partners. This report further stated that worldwide, almost one third (30%) of women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner in their lifetime. World Health Organization (2016) also made the submission that globally, as many as 38% of murders of women, are committed by a male intimate partner. It appears that women in Africa, like their counterparts all over the world, suffer domestic violence irrespective of their age, class, religion or social status. Nigeria also has her own fair share, as domestic violence is widespread and seems to be on the increase. According to the 2013 reports of the Center for Law Enforcement Education Foundation (CLEEN, 2013) on the survey of domestic violence in Nigeria,