Background Dating Violence (DV) is a major public health problem among adolescents and Female Adolescents (FA) are particularly at risk of becoming victims. Current study described socio-demographic determinants of DV among female victims. This information would help in formation and evaluation of programs that would promote the health and right of FA.

Methods This was cross-sectional in design, conducted in Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. Using two-stage sampling technique, 595 females were recruited from senior classes in private and government-owned secondary schools. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics and history of experiencing DV in the three month period preceding the study. Three domains of DV (physical assault, sexual coercion and injury) were assessed using a modified Conflict Tactics Scales 2. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test (level of significance = 5%) were conducted.

Results Mean age of respondents was 15.7 ± 1.6 years. About half (45.9%) had ever dated and 45.2% were currently dating. Among those who had dated, 54.9% experienced at least one incident of DV. Forms of DV experienced were physical assault (46.5%), sexual coercion (27.1%) and injury (8.8%). Younger (<15 years) (71.1%) compared to older (≥15 years) (52.3%) adolescents were more likely to be victims of DV. Nearly equal proportions of respondents from polygamous (55.8%) and monogamous (54.5%) homes experienced DV. More adolescents in private (14.4%) compared to government-owned (5.7%) schools suffered DV. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of DV between females currently in a dating relationship (55.3%) and those not currently dating (53.3%).

Conclusions The important role age, family type, school type and dating status played in DV victimisation poses the need for programmers to pay robust attention to FA in these categories when designing programs to address this problem.