ABSTRACT
In Nigeria, many women are brutally treated by their intimate partners who in some cases lead to the death of such women. Domes-tic violence affects all social groups and can consist of physical, sexual and psychological abuse. The level of violence against women in Nigeria is increasing by the day with two out of every three women in certain communities experiencing violence in the family. Many women do not report the abuse as they are ashamed that their marriages are not working and for most women in Nigeria, divorce is not an option at all. So they suffer in silence. It is against this background that the researcher looks into cases of domestic violence against women in Nigeria, types, causes, effects, and management. There is no significant association between the female’s age and the types of domestic violence. The population of the study will comprise all the respondents (Male and Female) between the age of 18 and above in Abeokuta Ogun state Nigeria. The sample of the study is hundred (200). Respondents were randomly selected from Abeokuta Ogun state Nigeria. Four (4) areas in Abeokuta will be randomly selected. Fifty (50) respondents will be randomly drawn out of the four (4) area to give a targeted population of two hundred (200) respondents. The four (4) local Government Area are Obada, Adigbe, Ita Oshin and Lafenwa. The study recommended comprehensive and extensive premarital counselling should be given to intending couples on how to manage their marital relationship; and the government should establish and fund counseling centres at the community, and Local Government levels and employ professional counsellors to help victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. This is study suggest that further research should be carried out to assess awareness, prevention and management of domestic violence again women in south-south States in Nigeria.
Keywords: Domestic violence; Nigerian women; types; causes; effects; management.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
Abstract viii
List of figures ix
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the
Study
1
1.2 Statement of the
Problem 3
1.3 Objectives of the
study
4
1.4 Research questions 4
1.5 Hypothesis 4
1.6 Significance of
Study 4
1.7 Scope of the Study 4
1.8 Operational
definition of terms
5
CHAPTER
TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES
2.1 Conceptual Review 6
2.1.1 Global View of
Domestic Abuse 7
2.1.2 History of
Domestic Violence 10
2.1.3 How common is Domestic
violence against women in Nigeria 11
2.1.4 Domestic violence
in Nigeria 12
2.15 Factors associated
with domestic violence against women in Nigeria 16
2.16 Domestic violence,
women and children as common victims 17
2.1.7 Types of domestic
violence 19
2.1.8 Causes of
domestic violence against women 20
2.1.9 Effect of
domestic violence against women 23
2.1.10 Risks factors
for domestic violence 24
2.1.11 The warning of
domestic violence 25
2.1.12 The prognosis
for domestic violence 26
2.1.13 Medical
professionals assessment for domestic violence 27
2.1.14 The treatment
option for domestic violence 28
2.1.15 Management of
domestic violence 31
2.2 Theoretical
Framework 33
2.2.1 Theory of social
learning 33
2.2.2 How the theory
work 34
2.2.3 Application to
the studies 37
2.3 Empirical Review of
Studies 37
2.4 Appraisal of
Literature Review
41
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design 42
3.2 Area of the Study 42
3.3 Population of the
Study 43
3.4 Sample and Sampling
Technique 43
3.5 Instrument for the
Data Collection 44
3.6 Validity of the
Instrument 44
3.7 Reliability of the
Instrument 44
3.8 Method of Data
Collection 44
3.9 Method of Data
Analysis 44
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS
AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1
Presentation of Data 45
4.2 Research Hypothesis 51
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY FINDINGS,
CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Discussion on findings 53
5.2
Implication to Nursing 55
5.3 Limitations of the study 55
5.4 Summary of Findings 55
5.5 Conclusion 56
5.6 Recommendations 56
5.7 Suggestions for Further Studies 57
REFERENCES 59
APPENDIX 63
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study
Domestic
violence has been a part of human history, and human civilizations have
tolerated it without feeling guilty. Violence against women is a consequence of
historically uneven power relations between men and women, which have resulted
in males exercising dominance over and discriminating against women, so
preventing women from achieving complete equality. Violence against women is a
worldwide scourge that continues to murder, torment, and maim women on a
physical, psychological, sexual, and emotional level. It is one of the most
common violations of human rights, depriving women of their security, equality,
dignity, self-worth, and right to basic freedom. Violence against women occurs
in the majority of the world’s nations, regardless of culture, class,
education, money, ethnic origin, or age (UN declaration on the elimination of
violence Against Women and General Assembly Resolution, 2002).
Domestic
violence, according to the Women Aid Collective (2004), may be defined as any
action taken against another person that is capable of depriving the individual
of a fundamental human right. (Women Aid
Collective 2004) added that domestic violence is a form of bullying whereby a
person is dealt with physically, thus resulting to injury on the victim just
because the perpetrator does not know of any other way to handle the situation.
Kantor in Yogo (2008), stated that domestic violence is a pressing global issue
which is often associated with women’s isolation from supportive kin ties. It
is an essential component of gender-based violence which has been defined as
those actions and activities that cause physical, psychological and emotional
harm to a person just because of mere misunderstanding, (Ityavyar in Okeph,
2005). As a phenomenon, however, violence against women relates to a broad
spectrum of issues affecting the existence of the female specie in relation to
the family. The female folks suffer in their matrimonial homes because God
Almighty constituted marriage in the Garden of Eden, made women help mate and
consequently our social system places women in a disadvantaged position
(1Okpeh, 2001).
The
study of Secretary General of United Nation (2004) explained that early
marriage involves the marriage of a child below the age of 18 years. Young
girls have not achieved full maturity and capacity to act, and lack ability to
control their sexuality. When they marry and have children, their health can be
adversely affected. Early marriage has inflicted dangerous and devastating
effects on young girls who are compelled to tie the knot in most cases.The
convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW) adopt in (2005) affirmed that the principle of fundamental rights and
freedom of every human being are guided by a broad concept of human right that
stretches beyond civil and political rights to the core issues of economic
survival, health and education that affect the quality of daily life for most
women and children. United Nation General Assembly (2000) postulated that
violence and abusive behaviour continue to be a major cause of death, injury,
stress and fear in various families. Domestic violence and abusive behaviour
are responsible for poor family relationship, although personality conflicts
and troubles within a marriage affect intimate behaviour, (Olson and Defrain
2006).
In
Nigeria, Amnesty international (2007) reports that a third (and in some cases
two-thirds) of women are believed to have been subjected to physical, sexual
and psychological violence carried out primarily by husbands, partners and
fathers while girls are often forced into early marriage and are at risk of
punishment if they attempt to escape from their husbands. There is sadly a deep
cultural belief in Nigeria that it is socially acceptable to hit a woman as a
form of discipline. Violence against women is a technical term used to
collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed
against women. One third of women in Nigeria were believe to be subjected to
physical, sexual and psychological violence carried out by husband, partners or
father. Common forms of violence against women in Nigeria are battering, sexual
abuse of children, marital rape, acid attacks, molestation, corporal punishment
and homicide. The victims of domestic violence are women, men, boys and
girls.The purpose is to create sensitization in the area of gender based
violence in Nigeria, as the victims most often suffer in silence and fail to
seek for help due to patriarchal society, attempt to preserve unity in the
relationship or family while in some cases they sacrifice their life in the
process.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
Husbands
and wives do not discuss family issues but husbands take sole decisions.
Through interactions with friends and colleagues, women talk about their
situations at home, there they are commonly abused by their spouses through
battering, sexual abuse, giving out female children in marriage at the early
years and depriving them neither to participate in the decision of child
marriage nor to take part in family affairs. Such early marriages limit
education, affects young girls’ academic pursuits, the future compromised and
other opportunities often leading to early child bearing and increased health
risks. Early child bearing affects female reproductive organs and health
problems such as unsafe abortion, and obstetric fistula. Husbands take decision
whether it suits the family or not. Though most wives and children suffer the
consequences of the heads of the families’ decisions.
It
is also observed that violation of women at home has made women situation
difficult to participate fully in issues concerning them in the home and in the
society. As such, women have no freedom to speak for themselves because of fear
of punishment from their husbands. Men think women are meant for giving birth,
taking care of the children and doing only domestic works. The problem
statement of the study seeks to answer the question on what is the awareness,
prevention and management of women victimized by domestic violence.
1.3
Objective of the Study
The
main purpose of this study is to discover the awareness,
prevention and management of domestic violence again women. Specifically the study aims at the
following.
1.
To discover the factors that influence domestic violence victimizing women in the
community
2.
To find out the level of awareness and knowledge of women victimized by
domestic violence.
3.
To seek the extent at which domestic violence has affected the full
participation in issues concerning them in their homes and in the society
4.
To determine the prevention and management of women victimized by domestic
violence.
1.4
Research Question
The
research questions of this thesis are as follow:
1.
What are the factors
that influence domestic violence victimizing women in the community?
2.
What is the level
of awareness and knowledge of
women victimized by domestic violence?
3. To what extent has domestic
violence affected the full participation in issues concerning them in their
homes and in the society?
4. What is the prevention
and management of women victimized by domestic violence?
1.5
Research Hypothesis
There is no significant association
between the female’s age and the types of domestic violence.
1.6
Significance of the Study
This
findings of the study published will be of great benefit to the ministry of
health and education, families, marriage counselors, teachers, curriculum
developers and the public. These findings will help the ministry of health and
education to bring up effective programs on domestic violence in marriages for youths
and married couples. It is believed that these bodies will train and equip the
youth and married couples on the awareness, prevention and management of
domestic violence focusing on the causes and consequences of it. This finding
will also help families on their roles to prevent and manage and also educate
the young one against domestic violence in the society. The result of this
study will help in reawaken marriage counselors and teachers on their role to
educate the youth and the married couples in the awareness, prevention and
management of women victimized by domestic violence.To the public, it is
believed that finding of this study will help all, especially clergy; they
would also know their role in guiding the masses especially the youth and the married
couples in the prevention and
management of domestic violence.
1.7
Scope of the Study
The study cover male and female aged
between 18 and above in four communities in Abeokuta. Due to the immensity of
the topic under study, other aspects of the topic may not be considered in
details. Focus will be on the awareness, prevention and management of women
victimized by domestic violence. This study also focuses on women residing
within the Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. It will address
women of various age groups, marital statuses, socioeconomic backgrounds, and
educational levels to understand the diverse impact of domestic violence on
different demographic categories.
1.8 Operational
Definition of Terms
· Awareness:
Knowledge and perception of a situation or fact
· Prevention:
The action of stopping something from happening or arising
· Management:
the is the coordination and administration of tasks to achieve a goal
· Victimize:
single (someone)out for cruel or unjust treatment
· Women:
an adult female human being.
· Domestic
violence: violent or aggressive behaviour within
the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.
· Ewekoro Local Government
Area (LGA) is situated in Ogun State,
southwestern Nigeria. It is one of the state's 20 LGAs, bordered by other LGAs
such as Ifo, Yewa South, and Abeokuta South. Ewekoro is known for its strong
industrial presence.
· Ogun State:
is located in southwestern Nigeria, bordered by Lagos State to the south, Oyo
and Osun States to the north, Ondo State to the east, and the Republic of Benin
to the west. Created in 1976, Ogun State is known for its significant
contributions to Nigeria’s cultural, educational, and economic development.
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