How Can I Feel Safe at Home? Adolescents' Experiences of Family Violence in Ghana

Abstract

Despite the implementation of various national legal frameworks and global policies such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to combat violence against young people, family violence against young people is prevalent, especially in WHO African region. Although, research on child maltreatment, specifically, for young children has received considerable attention in Ghana recently, there is little research on adolescents' experiences of such family violence. In this paper, we report the experiences and perceptions of adolescents with respect to family violence they had suffered or witnessed, and analyze the socio-ecological factors and power dynamics at home that contribute to such violence. The study employs a qualitative approach and the data comprise focus group discussion with 56 adolescents from 14 schools in seven districts of Ghana. The findings show that several adolescents in Ghana feel unsafe at home. They experience physical, psychological, and sexual violence as well as exposure to intimate partner violence, exploitation, and neglect. These violent acts were severe, with dire consequences such as permanent impairment and suicide. Perpetrators include all types of carers. The violent acts are often surreptitious and poly-victimization is common. The results also reveal that three main socio-ecological factors perpetuate and legitimize family violence: patriarchy, the normalization of corporal punishment as a method of child discipline, and superstitious beliefs about health. In general, carers demonstrate their superiority and control over the adolescents in an authoritarian manner, thereby, making the adolescents powerless. Implications of the study for policy and practice are discussed.

Percepções de conselheiros tutelares frente às situações de violência contra crianças e adolescentes

“…The negligent behavior of caregivers is generally attributed to a lack of emotional attachment 6 , which is in line with the findings of this study. In relation to the family, various aspects can favor or interfere with the process of forming an affective bond and protecting children and adolescents, such as previous experiences of violence and mistreatment by parents or caregivers, revealing the need to understand the patterns of intergenerational transmission of the problem in order to prevent it 16 .…”

“…Their early exposure to these situations can trigger damage and aggravation of a biopsychosocial nature, resulting in deficits in their growth and development 3,4 . As a consequence, short-and long-term impacts can be seen in the lives of this population, such as post-traumatic stress 5,6 , symptoms of insomnia, shorter sleep duration and nightmares 7 and permanent disability 6 , requiring continuous interventions in order to provide for the wellbeing of future generations of victimized children and adolescents 5 . Considering these impacts, the Sustainable Development Goals call for an end to abuse, exploitation and all forms of violence and torture against them by 2030 1 .…”

Unintentional Injury, and Safety Related Issues among the Adolescent Students of English Medium Private Schools in Tripura, India

“…Exposing children to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is also recognized as a form of child maltreatment [8]. At the family level, adolescents can experience violence in the forms of physical (use of physical force with intent to harm others), psychological (verbal or gestural with the intention of humiliating, threatening, or causing damage to self-esteem), and sexual violence (the imposition of sexual practice against the wishes of an individual or which results in their victimization), exploitation (use of the child in work or other activities for the benefit of others, which harms, for example, the child's physical and mental health and education), neglect (lack or denial of care to those in need) and exposure to intimate partner violence (experiencing violence between intimate partners) [9].…”

Effects of Intimate Partner Violence and Childhood Trauma on Depression in Ghanaian Women: A Cross-sectional Study

“…In 2013, UNICEF reported that about 3.4 million Ghanaian children experienced an emotional or physical assault during childhood. Also, approximately 90% of children in Ghana experienced some form of abuse before reaching adulthood (3). According to the Ghana Family Life and Health Survey, nearly 28% of women experienced either of the four types of domestic violence (physical, sexual, emotional and economic) 12 months preceding 2015 (4).…”