Gender-Based Violence among Married Women in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Gender-based violence is one of the major public health problems in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the perception and attitude of the community towards gender-based violence among married women in Northwest Ethiopia. A qualitative study was conducted using the purposive sampling technique for the three focus group discussions and ten in-depth interviews among married women. Data was analyzed thematically using version 3.4 of the Open Code Software. Most of the participants perceived that gender-based violence was acceptable in the community, violent acts needed to be considerably tolerated rather than condemned. Additionally, participants perceived that the consequences of gender-based violence were mild, and its elimination was difficult. Domestic violence was found to be common, marital rape was not clearly understood, and there was no tendency to disapprove it. This study revealed that the attitude of people and traditional norms played the major role in determining the acceptability of gender-based violence on married women. Increasing awareness on the consequences of gender-based violence, strengthening of women empowerment, involving different stakeholders on the provision of education, amending and enforcing the existing laws, and providing professional help to stop or reduce violence against women are recommended. (Afr J Reprod Health 2017; 21[4]: 102-109). Keywords:Gender-based violence, attitude, cultural norms, domestic violence, sexual coercion, rape RésuméLa violence basée sur les sexes est l'un des problèmes majeurs de santé publique en Ethiopie. Cette étude visait à évaluer la perception et l'attitude de la communauté envers la violence sexiste chez les femmes mariées dans le nord-ouest de l'Éthiopie. Une étude qualitative a été menée en utilisant la technique d'échantillonnage raisonnée pour les trois groupes de discussion et dix entretiens approfondis entre femmes mariées. Les données ont été analysées thématiquement en utilisant la version 3.4 du logiciel Open Code. La plupart des participants ont estimé que la violence sexiste était acceptable dans la communauté, que les actes violents devaient être considérablement tolérés plutôt que condamnés. De plus, les participants ont perçu que les conséquences de la violence sexiste étaient légères et que son élimination était difficile. La violence domestique était courante, le viol conjugal n'était pas clairement compris et il n'y avait aucune tendance à le désapprouver. Cette étude a révélé que l'attitude des gens et les normes traditionnelles jouent un rôle majeur dans la détermination de l'acceptabilité de la violence sexiste sur les femmes mariées. Une sensibilisation accrue aux conséquences de la violence sexiste, le renforcement de l'autonomisation des femmes, l'implication des différentes parties prenantes dans l'éducation, l'amendement et l'application des lois existantes et une aide professionnelle pour arrêter ou réduire la violence contre les femmes sont recommandées. (Afr J Reprod Health 2017; 21[4]:102-109).

Physical Violence and Associated Factors among Housemaids Living in Debre-Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia: Does Employer Alcohol Intake Increase Housemaid Violence?

“…Many victims of housemaids reported that when the employers took excess alcohol than usual, they assaulted the housemaids. A qualitative study in Debre Tabor town also supported this finding [24]. is is because alcohol has a depressive mental impairment and thus, human beings are encouraged to undertake violence.…”

Community Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence during Pregnancy—A Qualitative Study from Ethiopia

“…Consistent with the Connell’s theory of gender and power, social constructs, including the sexual division of labour, power and social norms, conflict/violence in marriage is taken for granted, and women are expected to be tolerant and sacrificial [30,31], enforcing the tendency to preserve women’s subordination. Other studies also confirm the gender inequitable norms and practices linked to IPV [32,33,34].…”

Examination of Attitudes of Married Women on Domestic Violence

“…Çalışmada, ayrıca aile içi şiddetin yaygın olduğu, bireylerin tutumunun ve geleneksel normların cinsiyet temelli şiddetin evli kadınlar üzerindeki kabul edilebilirliğini belirlemede önemli rol oynadığı belirlenmiştir. 18 Nijerya'da, kırsal kesimdeki 15-49 yaş grubunda 3911 kadın ile rastgele örneklem kullanılarak yapılan araştırmada da, kadınların eş şiddetine yönelik tutumlarında sosyo-ekonomik dezavantajların yanı sıra; sosyal, ekonomik, dini ve kültürel faktörlerin etkili olduğu belirtilmiştir. 19 Çoklu gösterge küme araştırması verileri kullanılarak, 15-49 yaş aralığındaki Vietnamlı kadınlarda aile içi şiddeti destekleyici tutumlara katkıda bulunan sosyoekonomik faktörleri tanımlamak amacı ile yapılan bir çalışmada, aile içi şiddeti kabul etme yaygınlığının 2006-2011 yılları arasında azaldığı (%65,1'den %36,1'e düşmüştür) bildirilmiştir.…”