Abuse and its’ psychological impact on women among Abagusii community of Kenya

Abstract

Abuse is an extremely complex phenomenon, deeply rooted in gender-based power relations. In the Abagusii community, women abuse has been and is still taking place. Quite a number of women are left either physically injured or some die out of the same. This has brought a major set-back to development within this society. Abuse includes physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse. This study was descriptive survey which was meant to find out the forms of abuse, the causes of abuse and the psychological impact of abuse. The purpose of the study included determining the forms of abuse, the causes of abuse, physical and the psychological impact of abuse. This study covered three districts and it involved a total population 14,800 women in and outside marriage with a sample of 120 respondents. Three administrative divisions were selected from three districts covering the Abagusii community; Kisii Central, Gucha District and Nyamira district. The main tool for data collection was a questionnaire. It was administered to both married and unmarried women. The data was analyzed descriptively using frequency tables, means and percentages. The research was meant to help the Kenyans soceity and other agents working in the country to recognize that women abuse was and still a serious problem impending development as well as violating human right issues of its victims, particularly women. This was also meant to create awareness of the vice. The findings indicated that several forms of abuse exists in the Abagusii community which were due to inequality between men and women, patterns of using violence to resolve conflicts, male authority and control of decision making and transgression of gender roles. The research also revealed that abuse is accompanied with a number of psychological impact; which include stress disorders, depression, anxiety and suicide attempt. To reduce the abuse, workshops and campaigns should be held to promote human rights education to empower women, eliminate laws that discriminate against women, strengthen women in decision-making and leadership and increase women’s access to and control of economic resource. Women should be educated through workshops and campaigns to help improve their self-esteem and sense of personal power. Abuse occurs in all social economics and educational classes. However, consistent list of events do cause abuse, which constitute transgression of gender norms, more so in defining proper roles and responsibilities of men and women.