PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN

1.1 Introduction

Gender based violence (GBV) refers to violence directed towards an individual or group on the basis of their gender. Gender based violence was traditionally conceptualized as violence by men against women, but is now increasingly taken to include a wider range of hostilities based on sexual identity and sexual orientation, including certain forms of violence against men who do not embody the dominant forms of masculinity. The term “Gender based” is used because such violence is shaped by gender roles and status in society. Gender based violence against women does not encompass every violent act a woman may happen to experience.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Gender based violence impacts the lives of countless women and their families across the United States. Women and girls of all ages, income levels, racial and ethnic communities, sexual orientations and religious affiliations experience violence in the form of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, trafficking and stalking. The enactment of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994 provided a national, streamlined response to how communities respond to violence against women by giving law enforcement, prosecutors and judges the tools they need to hold offenders accountable and keep communities safe while supporting victims. VAWA serves as a vital funding source for YWCAs and other organizations that provide critical services directly to victims of abuse and sexual assault.

The current interest in Gender based violence arose primarily with the growth of Western feminism in the 1970's, which drew attention to widespread violence against women. The social silence around rape was challenged and researchers identified Rape Trauma Syndrome (Burgess & Holdstrom, 1974) and Battered Women Syndrome (Walker, 1979) as common psychological conditions. Not only were high levels of sexual violence against women exposed, but this was theorised as an integral aspect of Patriarchy. Writers such as Brownmiller (1975), for instance, argued that rape was the means by which men as a social group maintained their dominance over women. While contemporary accounts are less conspiratorial, they nevertheless retain the fundamental insight that Gender based violence is inextricably linked to social structures of gender inequality. This is expressed through power imbalances in relationships, sexist ideologies, rape myths and the vulnerable position of women and other gender minorities in society (Walker et al., 2004; Vogelman, 1990; Wood & Jewkes, 1997; Vetten, 2000; Martin, 2004).

Two major consequences of this social context of inequality are that the victims tend to have limited power to protect themselves, and that they tend to be blamed for their own victimization. This victim blaming is frequently seen in cases of women whose rape is attributed to their own behaviour rather than that of the rapist, the negative perceptions of people who remain in abusive relationships, and the idea that it is the responsibility of gender minorities to conceal their sexual difference in order to avoid discrimination and assaults.

Gender based Violence during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, spontaneous abortion, bleeding during pregnancy, and higher neonatal deaths (Berenson et al., 2010) Intimate partner violence during pregnancy is a serious public health issue which threatens fetal and maternal health, so the effects of intimate partner violence on women's health are increasing attention from local and international policy makers, and from the healthcare community, this is due to an increased awareness of the prevalence of violence. Also the government has recognized the need to increase the awareness, understanding, and recognition of Gender based Domestic Violence to encourage victims to come forward (Shah, 2010).

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Prevalence and Predictors of Gender Based Violence among Pregnant Women.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation reveals the consequences of Gender based violence are devastating. Survivors often experience life-long emotional distress, mental health problems and poor reproductive health. Abused women are also at higher risk of acquiring HIV. Women who have been physically or sexually assaulted tend to be intensive long-term users of health services.

Gender based violence has adverse psychological, economic and health consequences. Young women and girls are also disproportionately victims of sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, and child marriage, among other types. Gender based violence can happen anywhere: in the home, at school, in the workplace, hidden, and in plain sight (Medium, 2021).

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Prevalence and Predictors of Gender Based Violence among Pregnant Women. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To identify the effect of Gender based Violence on pregnant Women
2. To assess the prevalence of Gender based Violence during pregnancy.
3. To assess the risk associated with Gender based Violence during pregnancy.
4. To determine the relationship between Gender based Violence and pregnancy.
5. To establish the attitudes and barriers to identifying and discussing with pregnant patients Gender based Violence during pregnancy.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Does the treatment of Gender based Violence as private matter is responsible for its persistence?
• Does the economic reason hinder the persecution of men for violence against pregnant women?
• What is the conventional family structure serves to rein force Gender based Violence?
• What are the risks associated with Gender based Violence during pregnancy?
• What is the relationship between Gender based Violence and pregnancy?
• What are the attitudes and barriers to identifying and discussing with pregnant patients Gender based Violence during pregnancy?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant Strategies for Handling Gender based Violence among Pregnant Women in Awka South
• H1: There are significant Strategies for Handling Gender based Violence among Pregnant Women in Awka South

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There are no significant Consequences for Handling Gender based Violence among Pregnant Women in Awka South
• H1: There are significant Consequences for Handling Gender based Violence among Pregnant Women in Awka South

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1.7 Significance of Study

This work investigates the prevalence and types of Gender based Domestic Violence among pregnant women living in Nigeria to inform policy, practice and future research. Gender based Domestic Violence against pregnant women to create awareness is still baffling to note that the problem is not being given the due attention it requires. It is hoped that this study would give fresh impetus to the campaign against violence against pregnant women in Awka South, Anambra State, most of the local are illiterate and, or are ill-educated on the rights and protection of women in the constitution of the state. It is hoped that this study would in explicit terms educate and inform the women at risk and other shareholders, of protective measures available in them.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Prevalence and Predictors of Gender Based Violence among Pregnant Women in Awka South, Anambra State.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Domestic: As used herein, refer to the types of relationships involved rather than the place where the violent act occurs.

Domestic Violence: Includes violence against pregnant women and girls by an intimate partner, including cohabiting partner, and by other family members, whether this violence occurs within or beyond the confines violence of the home.

Family: Refers to a social group whose members are united by ties of blood, marriage, or adoption and who live together, cooperate economically, care for the young and create a new culture.

Marital Violence: Refers to threat or actual physical assault by husbands or male partners upon their female counterparts wives.

Wife Battering: Refers to infliction of violent assaults frequently upon a woman to whom one is married to.

Rape: Refers to unlawful sexual intercourse with another person-women-without that person consent.

Sexual Abuse: As used here refers to the subjection of a woman to sexual activity likely to cause physical or psychological harm.

Abuse: Means to take undue advantage of; to maltreat; to violate; and to betray a confidence.

Patriarchy: As defined by Firestone (1970) and as used here, broadly means the rule of men.

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1.11 Organization of the Study

Chapter one of the study provides background of the study, stating the problem of the study and the research questions and hypotheses to be tested in the study. It also highlights the significance of the study and scope of the study.

Chapter two reviews related literature on the Perception of Psychosocial Consequences of Gender Based Violence among Female Adolescent in College research work.

Chapter three discussed the research methods to be used in designing the study which will include research design, population, sample size and sampling technique, data collection and data analysis methods.

Chapter four presents the data gathered in frequency and percentage tables. The data will also be analyzed and research hypotheses will be tested with chi-square statistical test.

Chapter five summarizes the outcome of the study, draw conclusions based on the findings of the study and make necessary recommendations.