Abstract:
This study investigated the prevalence, nature and determinants of intimate partner violence (IPV) among college of education students in Ghana. The study adopted a mixed method approach, specifically a concurrent triangulation design. The study population was all level 300 students in the selected Colleges of Education (CoE) in Ghana. Sampling techniques used were the purposive and census. A total of 1,228 students participated in the quantitative data while 12 students were interviewed for the qualitative data. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and an interview guide. Both descriptive and inferential statistics (independent samples t-test and One-Way Analysis of Variance) were used to analyse the quantitative data while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated a 54.3% prevalence of intimate partner violence among the CoE students. The most prevalent type of IPV experienced by respondents was social violence followed by sexual, psychological, economic and physical violence, in that order. Young age (immaturity), exposure to violence between parents, and weak legal sanctions against perpetrators of IPV were seen to be factors leading to IPV. Concern for children; hope that their partner would change and lack of support from family and friends were part of the reasons why CoE student stay with their abusive partners. It was recommended that, college counsellors become more empathic and non-judgmental when dealing with victims who continue to stay with their abusive partners.
