Project Materials

EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN VICTIMIZED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

ABSTRACT

The goal of this project was to investigate the experiences of domestic abuse victims in Kenya and understand their interactions in violent relationships. The goal is to learn about the prevalence and risk factors for domestic violence so that mitigation initiatives can be planned and implemented. This study was done by Ujamii Society, an organisation that provides a help line for women who have been victims of domestic violence. The study was qualitative, and the data gathering strategy was open-ended questionnaires in which the informants may express themselves freely. Data was analysed using the deductive content analysis method. The study discovered that culture, alcohol misuse, and economic issues were the leading causes of domestic violence against women. The majority of the women expressed satisfaction with how Ujamii society assisted them in finding alternate ways to deal with their domestic abuse experiences.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

In 2010, a district education office in Kenya ran a study to gather information on the prevalence of domestic violence in Kenya. The poll found that violence against women is common and affects all socioeconomic classes. However, there is a dearth of information on precise estimates of domestic violence against women due to the significant number of unreported instances.

In America, a national survey of 6000 families found that a considerable number of men abused their wives. (Fida Kenya 2010). Domestic violence has been a persistent issue in Kenya, particularly in rural regions.

A 2003 study examined the factors related with physical and sexual abuse in a sample of 4,876 married women aged 15-49 years from the Kenya demographic survey.

The findings revealed that over half of the married women examined had experienced at least one sort of violence, with 36% being physical and 13% being sexual. (Fida Kenya 2009).

Several factors contribute to the high rate of domestic violence against women. This includes economic circumstances that make women extremely dependent on their husbands. Economic dependency reduces a woman’s ability to influence a relationship or take action in the event of domestic abuse.

Cultural elements contribute to women’s marginalisation, making domestic violence more accepted in society. The lack of effective government programs inhibits women from seeking safety.

Domestic violence against women is socially acceptable, and deeply ingrained cultural attitudes about women’s inferiority and gender roles have fuelled the practice. Cooper et al. (2005, 120).

The Ujamii Society in Kenya is a non-governmental organisation founded by women for women. The organization’s goal is to provide a helpline for women who have been abused or are suffering from the long-term effects of domestic violence. The organisation provides legal representation to the buttered women, as well as psychological and physical therapy.

This study was carried out by the Ujamii Society, a group that works directly with domestic violence victimised women. Ujamii Society is a non-governmental organisation that was founded to provide a helpline for women who have been mistreated and suffer from the long-term effects of domestic violence.

The organisation provides legal representation to the buttered women, as well as psychological and physical therapy.

The central government funds Ujamii Society through the CDF (Constitutional Development Fund). The federal government established the Constituency Development cover to help local governments cover their own requirements.

Due to the high occurrence of domestic abuse, the Nairobi municipality felt compelled to establish a safe haven for women who had experienced it.

The Ujamii Society collaborates with the police, district attorneys, family counselling centres, and other organisations that advocate for women. (Ujamii Society 2010).

Ujamii civilisation prohibits male husbands from violating women by providing an alternative and empowering them. The purpose is to protect women from abuse by providing sanctuary, counselling, information and experiences concerning abuse, and legal representation.

The project also aims to provide services that teach women how to be self-sufficient. The goal of the Ujamii organisation is to strengthen the security of all family members and to direct them to areas where they can receive assistance through counselling.

The goal is to end the violence and assist women modify their attitudes so that they can live in equal relationships. (Ujamii Society, Kenya).

Phone services are one of the activities in the Ujamii society’s work process, in which battered women contact the organisation willingly for assistance. Following the initial phone call, they schedule an individual meeting with the client to begin the process.

Depending on the client’s situation and the assistance required, the client is referred to self-help groups within the organisation where women share and exchange experiences and how to stop the abuse.