Impact Of Social Work Practice On Male Victims Of Domestic Violence In Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (abuth Shika) Zaria, Kaduna State
International Journal of Social Work and Development Studies, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2026
Published: 2026/04/25
DOI: https://doi.org/10.67007/ijsds-2026-6400096
Abstract
Domestic violence against men remains significantly underrecognised in Nigeria, where dominant patriarchal norms construct masculinity as incompatible with victimhood. This study examines social work practice with male victims at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Oyo State, using an instrumental case study design involving three male outpatients presenting with intimate partner violence-related injuries. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews, clinical records, and social work case notes, and analysed using cross-case thematic analysis. Findings indicate a clear institutional imbalance: while male victimisation is medically identified and documented, psychosocial and rehabilitative responses remain limited, generic, and inconsistently applied. Social work interventions are shaped by gendered service assumptions that prioritise female victimisation frameworks, resulting in inadequate responsiveness to male victims’ needs. Socioeconomic class further influences both help-seeking trajectories and participants’ capacity to critically assess service shortcomings. Across all cases, there was no evidence of trauma-informed care, structured safety planning, or mental health screening, despite indications of psychological distress. The study concludes that LAUTECH’s social work system reflects broader structural invisibility of male domestic violence victims within Nigerian welfare and health policy frameworks, producing a predominantly medical-forensic response with limited psychosocial depth. It recommends gender-inclusive training for social workers, the development of male-specific service pathways, integration of trauma-informed protocols, and national policy reform recognising male victimisation in domestic violence frameworks.
Keywords: domestic violence, male victims, social work practice, institutional invisibility, gender-responsive services, Nigeria