An Establishment of the Psychosocial Effects of Gender Based Violence on Women Case Study: Ngariam Sub ’county Katakwi District

Abstract

The study establishes some of the psychosocial effects of gender based violence on women in Ngariam Sub County Katakwi district. The objectives of the study were to establish the effects of psychological and social effects of gender based violence on women’s behaviors and to identify strategies for prevention of gender based violence among women. The variables that guided the research were psychosocial effects of GBV as independent variable, the women’s behaviors as dependent variable, and Education, Policies, age, environment, laws enforced on gender as intervening variable.

The researcher used a case study research design and with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The respondents and sample size for the study involved the Counselors (30) who were purposively selected, women victims of GBV (20) who were randomly selected for the study (20). The questionnaires and the interview guide were used for data collection.

The findings for objective one were that; women were stressed up all the time to the extent that one becomes absentminded and shows actions of suicidal acts (46.7%) of the respondents. Women victims were always scared of any person around them due to mistrust and fear of being victimized (30%) of the respondents. Women victims always developed an addiction of alcohol/drug use (23.3%) of the respondents. In conclusion, GBV impacts on women’s ability to care for themselves and their children, is associated with self-destructive behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse, suicidal acts, poor social skills, development of illnesses like mental health problems, low self-esteem, Trauma, Isolation, failure to overcome post-traumatic stress disorders.

From the conclusion, the researcher recommends for Change of societal, cultural norms and changing Men’s attitudes of gender inequalities that drive GBV.

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