PERCEPTIONS OF THE FORMS AND EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE
PERCEPTIONS OF THE FORMS AND EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE
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Date
2012-12
Authors
NOHGWE, YOGO,
HELEN
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Abstract
This study focused on investigating the Perceptions of the Forms and Effects of
domestic violence on women’s health in Zaria Communities of Kaduna State,
Nigeria. The study was conducted in four communities within Zaria. The
objectives were to identify and describe the forms of domestic violence on
women’s health; explore the nature and prevalence of domestic violence on
women’s health; examine factors that enhances domestic violence on women’s
health; identify the effects of domestic violence on women’s health; strategies
adopted by victims to cope with domestic violence and recommending ways of
mitigating the incidence of domestic violence on women’s health. Liberal Feminist
Theory served as the theoretical framework for this study with its basic
assumptions that: as the dominant class, men have differential access to material
and symbolic resources thus women are devalued as secondary and inferior;
intimate partner abuse is a predictable and common dimension of normal family
life; women’s experiences are often defined as inferior because male dominance
influences all aspects of life. Information was derived from a sample of 186
respondents of age 10- 30 years and above, four in-depth interviews and three
focus group discussions were conducted. The findings revealed that, domestic
violence exist in the community with the most common forms as Sexual Assault
30 %( 55) and Spouse Battering 22 %( 41). As a consequence, its victims suffer
effects like bruises/injuries 54 %( 100), swollen body parts and stress related
injuries 52 %( 96). Findings also show that, factors that enhance domestic violence
include age of marriage, how marriages are concluded and socioeconomic status.
In addition, findings showed that reasons for the existence of domestic violence
leading to poor health status of women were attributed to poverty, non-challant
attitudes of spouse, and disobedience among couple. As a coping mechanism, the
findings revealed some respondents tend to have very interactive relationships with
their children, isolate themselves, become depressed, others accepted their
situations and turn to God in prayers. The respondents recommended that:
perpetrators must face the law; prayers should be implored; counseling and
dialogue should be implemented; cases of domestic violence should be reported on
time to parents and community leaders.
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Keywords
PERCEPTIONS,, FORMS,, EFFECTS,, DOMESTIC,, VIOLENCE,, WOMEN’S,, HEALTH IN ZARIA,, KADUNA STATE.