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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 12

Publication Date: December 25, 2021

DOI:10.14738/assrj.812.10041. Mutabaruka, F., & Kazooba, C. T. (2021). Is There a Solution to Domestic Violence? Digging Deeper Into the Problem of Domestic

Violence in Uganda a Case of Ibanda District. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(12). 298-307.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Is There a Solution to Domestic Violence? Digging Deeper Into the

Problem of Domestic Violence in Uganda a Case of Ibanda District

Dr. Fredrick Mutabaruka (PhD)

Mountains of the Moon University

Charles Tushabomwe Kazooba

Mbarara University of Science and Technology

P.O Box 1410 Mbarara, Uganda

ABSTRACT

This paper is a deeper analysis to whether there is an end to domestic violence. The

fact that there are a numbers of increased cases reported especially during corona

virus (covid-19) period, it was inevitable to carry out this study to understand more

about domestic violence. The study mainly focused on clear features and causes of

domestic violence. It also aimed at coming out with practical approaches to curbing

the problem. A mixed design approach was used in both collection and analysis of

data. The study used judgmental sampling strategy in selecting the participants

because the data that was required more tailored to knowledge based participants.

A total of 57 participants were involved from whom interviews and questionnaires

were administered. Results reveal a high increase in domestic violence evidenced

mainly by assaults of physical, mental emotional and verbal. Other cases are

through harassment behaviuors, disrespect and confrontation. The leading caused

to domestic violence are attributed to poverty, attitude of male dominance and

alcoholism as well as having outside relationships. Creation of extensive public

awareness through training and public campaign is recommended as the practical

intervention to curb domestic violence.

INTRODUCTION

During the corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic, a lot of social medial platforms revealed very

many incidences pertaining to domestic violence. Depending on each media platform, domestic

abuse reflected its self many forms. It appeared affecting both men and women in either a

married or unmarried relationship. Looking at the way the problem has been publicized during

this corona virus pandemic, the assumption is that the problem of domestic violence is a new

and emerging problem or as if it has come with corona virus. This therefore interested the

researcher to dig deep into the understanding of domestic violence to ascertain its meaning,

causes and suggest mitigations measures to the problem.

BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM

Domestic violence or violence expressed through intimate acts is as old as history. Rape and

other forms of sexual assaults and exploitation have been historically used to demoralize

groups of people. For example in Germany, contraction camps, North America bound slave

ships, World war 11 Japanese brothels filled with “comfort women” and many others. Society

also sanctioned forms of violence against women that include infibulations (fastening or

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Mutabaruka, F., & Kazooba, C. T. (2021). Is There a Solution to Domestic Violence? Digging Deeper Into the Problem of Domestic Violence in Uganda

a Case of Ibanda District. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(12). 298-307.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.812.10041

buckling together, female genitalia in an effort to render less able to work or unable to have

sexual intercourse respectively) and female genital cutting or excision (female circumcision).

The world societies have viewed women as less valuable than men. The assaults of women from

attending schools, killings women being victims or rape or other sexual violence or being

premarital sex in some countries, women being omitted from serving on juries in the United

states until 1701, preventing them from voting until 1920, all this viewed women as second

class citizens which encouraged their mistreatment (Edwards 1996).

Domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, dating violence,

spouse abuse or intimate partner abuse) is any form of mistreatment that takes place in a

hetero sexual or homosexual romantic relationship between adults or adolescents (Medicine

net 1996). It is any physical, sexual or psychological violence inflicted on a victim by a current

or former spouse or intimate partner or other members of the family (Spanish President 2002).

Domestic valance also refers to valance, abuse and intimidation between people who are

currently or have previously been in an intimate relationship. The perpetrator uses violence to

control and dominate the other person. This causes fear, physical harm and or physiological

herm. It is also termed as family violence meaning it is violence between family members

(children and parents) as well as intimate partner. Family valance reflects better on their

understanding and experience. Domestic violence is therefore a major health problem to the

public in that it affects millions of people and often results into physical and emotional injuries

and sometimes death (Phillips J 2014). This study aimed at understanding more on domestic

violence through explicitly identifying clear features and causes of domestic violence and

looked at the feasible measures that would led to overcoming the problem.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Different scholars have come out with different meanings of domestic violence. There are also

other underlying factors pointed out in different studies each with several determinants and

effects of domestic valance. Most studies however all have in common issues like household

wealth, education levels of partners, economic status levels and control of resources,

consumption of alcohol, drugs, HIV status and witnessing family violence during child growth,

all have more likely prone behaviors to family violence. Studies have further put across

measures to curb domestic violence. The understanding of all these determinants as well as

underlying interventions to domestic violence in developing countries Uganda inclusive

remains limited. Although there is some evidence on the causes and interventions to domestic

valance, the current demographic data reveals that domestic violence is on the highest increase

in developing countries. One therefore wonders whether the issue of domestic violence not well

understood or whether there is no solution to domestic valance. This study therefore focused

on understanding more on domestic violence, its causes and coming out with possible

mitigation measures to the problem.

OBJECTIVES TO THE STUDY

1. To explicitly come out with clear features of domestic violence

2. To identify key causes of domestic violence

3. To suggest possible remedies to cub domestic violence

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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 8, Issue 12, December-2021

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

LITERATURE REVIEW

Domestic violence (DV) also called dating violence, intimate partner abuse, and domestic abuse

takes many forms. Maltreatment that takes place in the context of any romantic relationship is

an abuse as described by the above specific terms. It therefore affects men, women, or teen girls

and boys, whether in a married or unmarried heterosexual or homosexual relationship.

Intimate partner violence may consist of one or more forms, including emotional, psychological,

physical, sexual, or economic abuse. It is defined as one person in an intimate relationship using

any means to put down or otherwise control the other (AARDVARC2007). Examples of

domestic abuse include physical, verbal (also called emotional, mental, or psychological abuse),

and sexual, economic/financial, and spiritual abuse.

Physically abusive behaviors include assault of any kind, ranging from pinching, pushing,

hitting, or slapping to choking, shooting, stabbing, and murder. Verbal, emotional, mental, or

psychological violence is described as using words to criticize, demean, or otherwise decrease

the confidence of the wife, husband, or other intimate partner victim. Sexual abuse refers to any

behavior that uses sex to control or demean the victim, like intimidating the victim into

engaging in unsafe sex or sexual practices in which he or she does not want to participate.

Economic or financial abuse is described as threatening or otherwise limiting the victim's

financial freedom or security. Spiritual abusers either force the victim to participate in the

batterer's religious practices instead of their own or to raise mutual children in a religion that

the victim is not in favor of. Stalking refers to repeatedly harassing and threatening behavior,

including showing up at the victim's home or workplace, placing harassing phone calls,

voicemail, email or postal mail messages, leaving unwanted items, or vandalizing the victim's

property. It is usually committed by perpetrators of other forms of domestic violence (Coker,

et al, 2000)

Domestic violence is a major public health problem in that it affects millions of people and often

results in physical and emotional injuries and even deaths (Fernandez, 1999). Media reporting

of celebrities' domestic abuse victimization demonstrates that even the most accomplished

individuals can be involved in this problem. The statistics about those who are affected by

intimate partner violence are staggering; domestic abuse affects 3%-5% of current adult

relationships in the United States, including more than 2 million women (AARDVARC2007).

Despite this issue disproportionately affecting women, the myth that violence against men does

not occur is incorrect; 800,000 men are victims of intimate partner abuse. Nearly one-third of

women can expect to be the victim of intimate partner violence sometime in their lifetime

(Mayell 2002). About 25% of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are

victims of intimate partner abuse, just as often as are heterosexual women. About 1,300 deaths

were attributed to domestic abuse as of 2003. Research into deaths that result from intimate

partner abuse in the United States and Austria indicate that more than 50% of women

murdered are the result of domestic violence, most often using a gun. About 4%-9% of men are

killed as victims of domestic violence. Approximately 65% of the approximate 1,300 murder- suicides that occur in the United States every year involve intimate partners (AARDVARC2007)

Teen intimate partner abuse takes place at an alarming rate. Facts about domestic violence in

this group include that as many as 12% of adolescents in grades 7 through 12 have been victims

of physical dating violence, and 20% of youth have suffered from psychological dating violence

(Lehmann 2002). This abuse puts victims in danger of practicing risky sexual behavior,

unhealthy eating, drug use, and suicidal behaviors. Other complications can include physical