Perceptions of the Forms and Effects of Domestic Violence on Women’s Health in Zaria, Kaduna State

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).

Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

The welfare and status of women reflect the conditions of their countries. The objective of this study is to provide information about ways and means available to improve the social well-being and health status of women and the girl-child.

Domestic violence is a term that covers a range of violent or abusive behaviors perpetrated within the context of the family or intimate relationship which could be physical or verbal.

For example, marital abuse is a form of domestic violence perpetrated within the context of an intimate relationship by one’s partner over one, at the detriment of one’s happiness and good health.

It has synonyms like wife beating and intimate partner abuse. Although, this is a serious issue plaguing the health status of women, there is paucity of data on domestic violence, principally because it is underreported.

As a matter of fact, most popular and academic literature have focused extensively on issues connected with the women’s liberation movement; the fight for equality and freedom of speech, and neglected domestic violence, sexual violence perpetrated against women and their health status.

In Nigeria, marital abuse has become a scourge and there is a report that 50% of Nigerian women have been battered by their husbands at one time or the other (NaijaGist.com, 2012).

References

Abama,A., Kwaja,K. (2009), “Violence Against Women in Nigeria: How the Millennium Development Goals Addresses the Challenge.” The Journal of Pan African Studies, vol.3, no.3, September 2009.

Aderinto,A. (2003), Public Concern of Private Affair: Social Construction of Domestic Violence against Women in post-colonial Nigeria. Paper presented at the Congress of the South African.

Amnesty International, (2001), Broken Bodies, Shattered Minds: Torture And III Treatment of Women. March 2004.Website:http//www.amnesty.ca/stoptorture/womenreport.pdf.

Amnesty International, (2004), Lives blown apart: crimes against women in times of conflict. London, Zed Publishers.