Causes And Effect Of Domestic Violence In Nigeria (A Case Study Of Ajegunle Lagos)

Project and Seminar Material for Education

Abstract

Domestic violence has caused so many issues in the life of many Nigerians; separating families and friends. Nigeria has always being a very peaceful nation for a very long time; the question is; where did it all went wrong?
Ajegunle as the cast study is a very populated area in the heart of Lagos with people of different socio-economic background; mainly families with below income average. The main inhabitants of this area of Lagos are mainly illiterates, from humble back ground. The major cause of domestic violence in Ajegunle is due to the high level of poverty. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), a survey is an attempt to collect data from members of a population in order to determine the current status of that population with respect to one or more variables., the researcher targeted the ten sub-location in Ajegunle with 1000 families making up the study population anda sample of 302 respondents. Conclusion and recommendation was made at end of the study.

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

Ajegunle as the cast study is a very populated area in the heart of Lagos with people of different socio-economic background; mainly families with below income average.

The main inhabitants of this area of Lagos are mainly illiterates, from humble back ground.

The major cause of domestic violence in Ajegunle is due to the high level of poverty. Families find it difficult eat, pay their children school fees; when the parents can no longer provide for their children, the children starts engaging themselves in illegal acts like stealing and other social vices. Some of the children end up becoming members of different cult groups; they begin to steal, kill to survive; when finally they are being apprehended by the police or killed by other cult groups, the whole fiasco will land on their families respectively.

On the 22nd April 2016 in Ajegunle; a father and three of his sons were killed by a group called one million boys. The people that raised the alarm were claiming that the boys were thugs sent by somebody; but the truth is; nobody knows exactly what lead to the death of the man and his three children; it might be a fault of one of the son, it can still be that they were actually being attacked by thugs.

Domestic violence increases on daily bases in this area of Lagos; families are not united; parents cannot give account of their children as to where they are; what they are doing, how they are surviving out there. The life that most children live is as a result of the care and guidance given to them by their parents.

Most of the people in Ajegunle still practice the old time tradition where a man have more than one wife; such homes if there are no compatibility of any kind, there will be a huge crises in their families.

Finally another cause of domestic violence in Ajegunle is as a result of over population in this area, most of the building there is clustered together; no privacy, poor security etc. this can lead to misunderstanding among families.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Domestic violence has being a thorn on the lives of most families in Ajegunle local government area of Lagos, the federal government of Nigeria has always kicked against domestic violence; if domestic violence is not being controlled at the early stage, this can grow to become a major crises in Nigeria. The federal governments of Nigeria, families, friends are looking for a way out of this situation in most of the local areas in Nigeria. Most parents do not start at the early stage to correct these issues until it goes out of control.

1.3 Research Question

What are the roles of parents in the resolution of domestic violence in Ajegunle?
What could be the major causes of domestic violence in Ajegunle?
Does domestic violence have any significant effect on the socio-economic development of Nigeria?
Does the federal government intervention on the issue of domestic violence have any significant effect on the level of crises in Nigeria?
Does education help to reduce the effect of domestic violence?
Does the family background have any significant effect on domestic violence in Ajegunle?
Could high rate of poverty in this area be the major causes of violence in Ajegunle?

1.4 Research Hypothesis

H0: Domestic violence does not have significant effect on the socio-economic development of Nigeria
H1: Domestic violence has significant effect on the socio-economic development of Nigeria
H0: The family background does not have significant effect on level of domestic violence in Ajegunle
H1: The family background has significant effect on level of domestic violence in Ajegunle

1.5 Aims and Objectives of Study

The aims of the research work are to find out:

The roles of parents in the resolution of domestic violence in Ajegunle.
The major causes of domestic violence in Ajegunle
The effect of domestic violence on the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
The role of the federal government intervention on the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria.
If education help to reduce the effect of domestic violence.
If the family background have any significant effect on domestic violence in Ajegunle.
The effect of high level of poverty on the level of domestic violence in Nigeria.

1.6 Significance of Study

The research work is an interesting one; as it will discuss in detail the origin of domestic violence in Ajegunle, the best way to eradicate domestic violence in this area of Lagos; the research work will discuss the effect of domestic violence on the socio-economic development of Nigeria and the roles of education in the resolution of domestic violence in Ajegunle.

1.7 Scope of Study

The research work is only limited to the causes and effect of domestic violence in Nigeria.

1.8 Limitation of Study

Financial Constraints:

The researcher was unable to go to all the areas of Ajegunle; but he was able to get all the information needed for the purpose of the research work from the responses of the respondents in Ajegunle, Lagos

Times Constraints:

The research was involve in other departmental activities like attending lectures, doing other assignments, but the research was able to meet up with the time given for the submission of the research work.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Abuse

Abuse refers to an improper usage or treatment of an entity, often to unfairly or an improperly gain benefit

Cultural Beliefs

Cultural beliefs refers to a way of life of group of people, the behaviours, beliefs, values and symbols that they accept generally without thinking about them and that are passed from one generation to the next.

Drug

Drug refers to a chemical substance that has known biological effect on human or other animals.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence refers to Violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.

Education

Education refers to a process of facilitating learning, knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits of people.

Emotions

Emotions refer to a person‘s state of mind and instinctive responses.

Family

Family refers to a group consisting of two people and their children living together as a unit related by blood, marriage or adoption.

Socioeconomic

Socioeconomic refers to social science that studies how economic activity affects and is shaped by social processes.

Violence

Violence refers to a behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage or kill someone or something.

Ward

Ward refers to a sub division of local authority area headed by Member of County Assembly.

Chapter Five

Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations.

5.1 Introduction

The purpose of the study was to investigate the causes and effect of domestic violence among families in Ajegunle, Lagos State. This chapter covers summary, conclusions and recommendations based on the study findings and suggestions for further researchers.

5.2 Summary of the Study Findings

The first objective of the study was to determine the extent to which socio economic status influence domestic violence among family in Ajegunle,. The study found out that majority of families (53.3%) in Ajegunle were from locations that believed on the influence of socio-economic status on domestic violence among families
Most of the respondents (45.5%) revealed that poverty among families had ignited violence .It was observed that parents who are poor tend to blame each other ,tried to avoid responsibilities and neglect their duties and hence leads to violence and divorce. This is in line with Magikuu (2010) who asserted that prevalence of poverty in most villages had led to separation of families.

The second objective was an emotional abuse and domestic violence. The study revealed that most (38.7%) differed because of emotional abuse. Majority of the families (66.9%stated verbal abuse as one of the form of emotional abuse that had taken a devastating toll on women‗ lives, on their families and on their society as a whole in Ajegunle .This is in line with Ki-moon(2007) who noted that violence against women due to verbal abuse continues unabated in every continent ,country and culture .He stated that it takes place at home /on the streets ,in schools , the workplaces, in farm fields ,streets, refugee camps, during conflicts and crises.

The third objectives was on drug abuse influencing domestic violence among families .The study established that majority (82.3%) of the families believed that is the major cause of domestic violence among families. The researchers observed that the majority (92.5%) of the families demonstrated that alcohol has become a global pandemic, causing harm to families and the community , violated human rights hampered productivity, reduces human capital and undermined economic growth in the community.

The fourth objective was on the influence of cultural beliefs on domestic‘s violence. The study established that the majority (76.7%) of the respondents agreed that cultural beliefs had taken roots in the society and hence the community had to abide by the culture. The study further establish that of the respondents (39.8%) found taboos as a form of cultural belief that has taken route in the society and had caused devastating effects on the society. This concurs with World Bank (1994) study on ten selected risks factors facing girls and woman in age of 16 to 44 years and found taboos more dangerous than malaria.

The fifth objective was on level of education on domestic violence. The study established that most (41.7%) of the respondents in ajegunle agreed that the level of education of the couples determined their way of life, relationship and living standard. The study further found out that the majority of respondents (41.7%) found the level literacy as the main course of violence

5.3 Conclusions

The study was based on the factors such as socioeconomic status, emotional abuse, drug abuse, cultural beliefs and level of education on domestics violence in Ajegunle, Lagos. the study established that the most families in the ward revealed that poverty among families had ignited violence. It was observed that parents who were poor to blame each other and hence neglect their duties thus lead to violence and divorce.

The study established the majority of the families in the ward quarrels becomes of exchange of bitter wards commonly term as verbal abuse. It was found out that majority of the families had lost life because of it.

The study found out that the majority of the families demonstrate that drug abuse become a global pandemic especially the alcohol. It has caused horned to many families and had undermined growth in the country.

The study established that cultural beliefs had taken roots in the society and it has become part and parcel of their life. The study further established that it is the cultural beliefs that it ignited domestic violence frequently in the families.

The study established that socioeconomic status, cultural beliefs, level of education, emotional abuse and drug abuse had led to poor planning among families and the entire public organization in Ajegunle and hence this had ignited domestic violence and low development.

5.4 Recommendations

The government should create public awareness on cultural beliefs that affect the community; the national administration also should sensitize people on prohibition of drugs abuse such as alcohol, Glue, Cigarette and commonly abused in the local area, the government should also empower women economically so as to become independent and less vulnerable members of society, the government also should train regularly national administration such as Chiefs and Assistants so as to reduce domestic violence among families and that the public institution should create conducive environment for workers so as to enhance productivity and thus reduce conflict among themselves

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