Domestic Violence in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Aims And Objectives Of Study
The aims of the research work are to find out:
- The roles of parents in the resolution of domestic violence in Ajegunle.
- The major causes of domestic violence in Ajegunle
- The effect of domestic violence on the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
- The role of the federal government intervention on the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria.
- If education help to reduce the effect of domestic violence.
- If the family background have any significant effect on domestic violence in Ajegunle.
- The effect of high level of poverty on the level of domestic violence in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This section looks at both theoretical and empirical literature about the prevalence and causes of domestic violence. This chapter begins with a look at ideas and thoughts of domestic violence, the different types of violence and its causes. This would be coupled with survey of empirical works done in some countries and regions on the prevalence and causes of domestic violence against married women.
What is domestic violence?
According to Tjaden & Thoennes (2000), any form of physical assaults, rape and stalking perpetuated by a woman‟s former or current partner is defined as domestic violence.
Another definition by the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (UN, 1993) is that, violence against women is any gender based violence act that ends or might end up with sexual, physical abuse or harm ones mental functioning or causes pain to the victim, in this case woman, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private.
However, The World Health Organization (WHO) report on violence and health defines violence as any deliberate act of violence by using physical force or threats against ones will or a group of people, which might result in death, psychological harm, injury and deprivation (WHO, 2002).
Holden, (2003) defines domestic violence as any assaultive and coercive behavior by adults against their intimate partners.
Types of domestic violence
Physical violence
Physical assault is the situation whereby a physical force is used against another person including forcible confinement or detention of a person and the deprivation of access to adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, rest, or subjecting someone, in this case a woman, to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Domestic Violence Act of Ghana, 2007).
According to Dutton (1992) for instance, physical abuse is any behavior that is intentionally used to force one against his/her body that poses risks, physical injury, harm, and/or pain. Action Aid Ghana (2007), in their study in the Northern Ghana reported that physical violence was predominant. It was also reported that physical assault of wives by their husbands came up as the most common type of violence. In addition, Kaur and Garg (2010) in their research in a rural community in India found out that physical violence was a major cause of concern among women even during pregnancy. In addition, it is reported that one in every three women in Ghana have experienced physical violence through slaps or the use of belts, beating by their current or previous husbands (Gender Studies and Human Right Documentation Center, 1991). Coker-Appiah and Cusack (1999) reported in a study conducted in Ghana that 33% of the women interviewed admitted that they had either been beaten, slapped or physically punished by their current husbands. It is surprising that among the group of women, older women had a higher prevalence of being physically abuse, which constituted 35% whiles 26% were younger women.
Sexual violence
Sexual violence is forceful engagement of a person in a sexual contact, which includes sexual conduct that abuses, humiliates or degrades the person. Also when one violates a person’s sexual integrity or a sexual contact by a person aware of being infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other sexually transmitted disease with another person without that person being given prior information of the infection (Domestic Violence Act of Ghana, 2007). However, Dutton (1994) defines sexual abuse as any unwanted sexual intimacy forced on one individual by another person.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
In this chapter, we would describe how the study was carried out.
Research design
This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), a survey is an attempt to collect data from members of a population in order to determine the current status of that population with respect to one or more variables. Survey research is considered as the best method available to social scientists and other educators who are interested in collecting original data for purposes of descriptive survey research design can be used to collect information about people‘s attitude, opinions, habits or a variety of education or social issues (Kombo, 2006).
Sources of Data
The data for this study were generated from two main sources; Primary sources and secondary sources. The primary sources include questionnaire, interviews and observation. The secondary sources include journals, bulletins, textbooks and the internet.
Population of the study
A study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description (Prince Udoyen: 2019). In this study, the researcher targeted the ten sub-location in Ajegunle with 1000 families making up the study population.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSIONS.
Introduction
This chapter focuses on a depth data analysis, presentation, interpretation and discussion. Data analysis was done against the background of the key study variables: influence of socio-economic status, emotional abuse, drug abuse, cultural beliefs and level of education on domestic violence among families in Ajegunle area of Lagos state
Demographic characteristics of respondents.
This section features the respondents demographic that were considered significant to the study. Such demographic features include sex, age and level of education. The demographic characteristics of respondents were considered significant to the study on the basis that variations on such orientations would depict different attitudes toward domestic violence hence exposing human drives which may compel them in battering, fighting and assaulting each other.
Characteristics of the respondents by age.
The researcher assumed that the age diversity of the respondents would be of great significance to the study on the ground that unemployment was rampant in the county; hence newly young married couple was many in Ajegunle. Moreover, age variation of the respondents could also correspond to their domestic violence, as young people may not take much time to settle their dispute in their respective marital engagement and are likely to be more prone to domestic violence than elderly people. The respondents were subsequently requested to complete the questionnaire indicating their ages and their responses.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
Introduction
The purpose of the study was to investigate the causes and effect of domestic violence among families in Ajegunle, Lagos State. This chapter covers summary, conclusions and recommendations based on the study findings and suggestions for further researchers.
Summary of the study findings
The first objective of the study was to determine the extent to which socio economic status influence domestic violence among family in Ajegunle,. The study found out that majority of families (53.3%) in Ajegunle were from locations that believed on the influence of socio-economic status on domestic violence among families
Most of the respondents (45.5%) revealed that poverty among families had ignited violence .It was observed that parents who are poor tend to blame each other ,tried to avoid responsibilities and neglect their duties and hence leads to violence and divorce. This is in line with Magikuu (2010) who asserted that prevalence of poverty in most villages had led to separation of families.
The second objective was an emotional abuse and domestic violence. The study revealed that most (38.7%) differed because of emotional abuse. Majority of the families (66.9%stated verbal abuse as one of the form of emotional abuse that had taken a devastating toll on women‗ lives, on their families and on their society as a whole in Ajegunle .This is in line with Ki-moon(2007) who noted that violence against women due to verbal abuse continues unabated in every continent ,country and culture .He stated that it takes place at home /on the streets ,in schools ,the workplaces, in farm fields ,streets, refugee camps, during conflicts and crises.
The third objectives was on drug abuse influencing domestic violence among families .The study established that majority (82.3%) of the families believed that is the major cause of domestic violence among families. The researchers observed that the majority (92.5%) of the families demonstrated that alcohol has become a global pandemic, causing harm to families and the community , violated human rights hampered productivity, reduces human capital and undermined economic growth in the community.
The fourth objective was on the influence of cultural beliefs on domestic‘s violence. The study established that the majority (76.7%) of the respondents agreed that cultural beliefs had taken roots in the society and hence the community had to abide by the culture. The study further establish that of the respondents (39.8%) found taboos as a form of cultural belief that has taken route in the society and had caused devastating effects on the society. This concurs with World Bank (1994) study on ten selected risks factors facing girls and woman in age of 16 to 44 years and found taboos more dangerous than malaria.
The fifth objective was on level of education on domestic violence. The study established that most (41.7%) of the respondents in ajegunle agreed that the level of education of the couples determined their way of life, relationship and living standard. The study further found out that the majority of respondents (41.7%) found the level literacy as the main course of violence
Conclusions
The study was based on the factors such as socioeconomic status, emotional abuse, drug abuse, cultural beliefs and level of education on domestics violence in Ajegunle, Lagos. the study established that the most families in the ward revealed that poverty among families had ignited violence. It was observed that parents who were poor to blame each other and hence neglect their duties thus lead to violence and divorce.
The study established the majority of the families in the ward quarrels becomes of exchange of bitter wards commonly term as verbal abuse. It was found out that majority of the families had lost life because of it.
The study found out that the majority of the families demonstrate that drug abuse become a global pandemic especially the alcohol. It has caused horned to many families and had undermined growth in the country.
The study established that cultural beliefs had taken roots in the society and it has become part and parcel of their life. The study further established that it is the cultural beliefs that it ignited domestic violence frequently in the families.
The study established that socioeconomic status, cultural beliefs, level of education, emotional abuse and drug abuse had led to poor planning among families and the entire public organization in Ajegunle and hence this had ignited domestic violence and low development.
Recommendations
The government should create public awareness on cultural beliefs that affect the community; the national administration also should sensitize people on prohibition of drugs abuse such as alcohol, Glue, Cigarette and commonly abused in the local area, the government should also empower women economically so as to become independent and less vulnerable members of society, the government also should train regularly national administration such as Chiefs and Assistants so as to reduce domestic violence among families and that the public institution should create conducive environment for workers so as to enhance productivity and thus reduce conflict among themselves.
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