The Prevalence, Determinants, and Health Risks of Domestic Violence in Gedeo and West Gujji Zones, Southern Ethiopia: An Evidence-based Study (Published)
This study was aimed at looking in to women’s experiences of violence in the home in
selected woreda’s of Gedeo and West Gujji Zones. Mixed research approach was employed to collect the required data from victims of domestic violence, police officers, and officials and experts in concerned government offices. The quantitative data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 and thematic analysis method was employed for qualitative data. The result revealed those women’s accounts of abuse is a complex phenomenon because it includes various forms, ranging from humiliation, threats and social isolation to forced sex and battering. Violence against women runs along a range, often escalating from milder forms to more serious acts. The finding indicated that men who are physically abusive are also psychologically, economically and sexually abusive. In this study, Economic dependence, and transgressions of gender role were found to be the main causes of domestic violence. Alcoholism, jealousy and masculinity linked to dominance were also mentioned as factors of violence. Domestic violence has profound consequences on women’s overall well-being. The experience of domestic violence puts women at greater risk of physical, social, mental and health problems. With regard to response to domestic violence, the study shows that some abused women are not passive victims but rather adopt active strategies to maximize their and their children safety. As economic dependence was found to be the prominent cause for domestic violence the researchers suggest the integrated interventions of stakeholders to economic empowerment of women to scale up the capabilities of women in household decision making thereby reducing the likelihood of violence in the home. Furthermore, enforcing the existing legal frameworks related to domestic violence and enacting additional responsive regulations on domestic violence is imperative to protect the victims of domestic violence.
Keywords: Consequence of violence, Domestic Violence, Gedeo zone, West Gujji zone, causes of domestic violence.
Incidence of Domestic Violence among Married Women in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria (Published)
The aim of this study was to investigate the social determinants of domestic violence in rural areas as a yardstick for determining the pathways through which socio-cultural processes influence women’s susceptibility to marriage. A cross sectional research design was adopted for this study and quantitative data were collected using the Severity of Violence Against Women Scale (SAVAWS) that was developed by Marshall (1992). Domestic abuse was discovered to be prevalently experienced in rural areas. Also, the study discovered six factors that influence the experience of domestic abuse among rural women namely: drunkenness, financial demand, rebuffed sexual advances, annoyance nature of the male partner, cultural and stereotypical beliefs of the communities as well as a combination of any of these factors. It needs to be emphasized that among these six factors, financial request was mostly pointed out as the reason domestic violence occur in rural areas, which is an indication that rural men commonly experience financial stress. This may be due to the high rate of illiteracy and unemployment among rural women as well as the extended family relationship that exist in rural communities.
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Incidence, Married Women, Rural Area, Social Determinants
Gender And Violence against Women in Nigeria: A Socio-Psychological Perspectives (Published)
Socially division of human being into male or female is gender. Therefore, gender is about men and women. Unfortunately, gender differentiation is very common in a patriarchal set up where one group of people feels superior while the other is deemed inferior, anatomically weak and subordinate. However, the term itself is quite controversial, especially among peace and conflict managers. This paper therefore, examines gender issues and violence, such as sexual harassment, forceful marriage, women genital mutilation, trafficking in women, physical torture, discriminating, etc., against women in Nigeria in general and particularly Akwa Ibom State. The study adopted qualitative research and documentary method of data collection. Its revealed that, their families and friends may be affected in the case of intimate partner violence, there is increasing evidence of the negative impact on children of exposure to violence in the family. Society suffers economically, both in the use of resources and in the loss of productivity due to fear and injury. It recommended among others that government should organize workshops and seminars in both urban and rural areas. Also non-governmental organizations should make wider their sensitization projects to the rural areas through electronic and print media. to ensure that the awareness of violence against women permeates the grassroots, and endeavour to work with Ministry of Social Welfare and Woman Affairs.
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Gender, Personality Traits, Social Learning, Trafficking, Victimization