Multigenerational attitudes to gender norms on intimate partner violence and the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Nigeria

This study undertook an assessment of multigenerational attitudes towards gender norms related to intimate partner violence (IPV), sexuality, and reproductive health behaviours. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 1630 young people and adults, in six communities in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria. In data analysis, mean attitude scores were computed and compared across generation cohorts using analysis of variance. Attitudes toward each domain of intimate partner relationships served as the dependent variables in three separate linear regression analyses, where the predictors were identified accordingly. The results showed that the differences in mean scores on attitudes towards gender norms about IPV and sexuality in intimate partner relationship were not statistically significant across the generation cohorts (p > 0.05). However, there were significant differences in the attitudes of generation cohorts towards gender norms relating to sexuality and reproductive health behaviour. The sociodemographic predictors of attitudes to gender norms on IPV were male gender (β = 0.106, p = < 0.001) and urban residence (β = 0.075), p = < 0.001), while tertiary education predicted attitudes to gender norms on sexuality (β= - 0.156, p = 0.012) and reproductive health behaviour (β= - 0.216, p = < 0.001). The findings highlighted generational similarities and differences in attitudes towards gender norms in intimate partner relationships. Generational differences were shaped by factors such as age, gender, and education level. Conducting longitudinal studies could reveal how these attitudes evolve and societal changes' impact.