Domestic violence among Women in rural areas of Nawanyago Sub-county, Kamuli District, Eastern Uganda
Abstract
Domestic Violence (DV) against females is extensively documented as a serious human right
abuse, and an imperative public health problem with substantial consequences including
physical, political, mental, sexual, and reproductive health. It is an inclination of behavior that
has been passed on from generation to generation. The purpose of the study was to assess the
factors contributing to domestic violence among women, its effects and strategies used to curb
it by residents of Nawanyago Sub-county. The study employed a cross-sectional qualitative
study design, and consisted of a study population of 16 respondents (married) aged between 18
to 60 years and were both men and women residing in Nawanyango Sub-county, Kamuli
District. The study employed simple random sampling to obtain the respondents while data
collection was through use of in-depth interviews, and data analysis was through open coding
system. It was revealed that that major causes of DV in the study area included power
imbalances (male dominance, gender inequality), socialization, globalization/technology
advancement, poverty, alcoholism, marital infidelity, primitive cultural beliefs and practices.
There were different forms of DV including beating, marital rape, maltreatment, throwing of
objects, pushing, humiliation and verbal abuse while men (husbands) were the main
perpetrators of DV, especially when drunk, poor and during crop harvesting period. The main
effects revealed were physical injuries, emotional, depression, suicide, murder, stigma and
isolation. DV cases were resolved by family members and neighbors, going to hospitals for
medical care, reporting to LCs and resorting to Christ.
For effective gender relations, the study recommended for massive awareness on the
effect of violence on one’s health, economic empowerment of women through associations,
adopting awareness program in schools’ curriculum to sensitize all children on the need to
avoid GBV, rectify unfavorable positive perceptions of women towards DV