DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILDREN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN NSIT UBIUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
ABSTRACT
This study aims especially at ascertaining how domestic violence affects children's academic performance in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. The study identified the effects of domestic violence on children’s academic performance in the Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. The researcher suggests remedies on how to minimize domestic violence, so as not to affect children's performances in school. The instrument used for the collection of data in the study was a designed questionnaire.
The finding indicated that domestic violence occurs in all social class ranging from a higher class, the middle class and the lower class economic class of people. It also found out that domestic violence is also one of the major causes of failure in children’s academic performance in Nsit Ubium Local Government.
The study was then concluded by making some recommendations on how to solve the problems of domestic violence in affecting children’s academic performance in Nsit Ubium Local Government.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Declaration
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Table of contents
Abstract
Chapter one: Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the study
1.3 Objective of the study
1.4 Research question
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Scope and lamination of the study
1.7 Definition of key terms
1.8 Organization of the study
Chapter two: Literature review and theoretical framework
2.1 Literature review
2.2 Theoretical framework
Chapter three: research methodology
3.1 Research design
3.2 The population of the study
3.3 method of data collection
3.4 Method of data analysis
3.5 The study area
3.6 Sample size and sampling technique
Chapter four: Data presentation and analysis
4.1 Data presentation
4.2 Test of hypothesis
4.3 Discussion of major finding
Chapter five: Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
References
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Three different dimensions of abuse characterizes domestic violence, physical, sexual and emotional abuse (National Strategy on domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence 2010-2014). Behaviours that commonly occur in situations of domestic violence include various forms of physical abuse such as kicking, punching, slapping, smothering or choking, biting, throwing and threatening with objects. The use of isolation can be a key device, for example, where the abuser restricts communication between the victim and those who are close to the individual. (Task force on violence against women 1997). Domestic violence often includes the use or abuse of children as well as economic abuse controlling and intimidating behaviour including threats and blaming of the victim. Older people who can experience abuse by careers and by those in position of trust, (HSE 2009).
However, domestic violence usually involves one person in a relationship using a pattern of behaviour to control the other person. Anyone can be victim of domestic violence; it cuts across all age, gender, race, culture and religion. However, most often children and women are the victims of domestic violence (divorce online 2009).
Domestic violence can have several effects on its victims ranging from the abuser to the abused children who witness or are victims of domestic violence tend to be affected psychological and emotionally. Research shows that children who witness domestic violence may be as adversely affected as children who are direct victims of domestic violence. Even when the child is not physically harmed, statistics show that children who live in homes where abuse occurs are more likely to develop emotional and behavioural problems.
According to the task force on violence against women (1997:27) domestic violence refers to the use of physical or emotional force or threat of physical force, including sexual violence in close adult relationships. The report makes it clear that domestic violence covers a broad range of behaviours and goes beyond actual physical violence.
The natural Study of Domestic Abuse (NSDA) survey in 2003 provides the most recent nationally representative picture of the nature, prevalence and impact of domestic violence. The study makes a distinction between those experiencing severe abuse and minor incidents of abuse. Severe domestic violence or abuse is defined in the reports as a pattern of physical, emotional or sexual behaviour between partners in an intimate relationship that causing consequences for the person (Watson and Parsons, 2005:23).
Moreover, more than half of the socio-age children in domestic violence situations show clinical levels of anxiety or posttraumatic stress disorders without treatment. These children are more prone to delinquency, substance abuse and poor academic performance perhaps, leading to dropping out of school and difficulties in their own relationships.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
According to Jewkes (2002), domestic violence is one of the key causes of intimate of violence partner violence. It is the normative use of violence in our society. Domestic violence is one of the major social problems that affects both the family and the society. This problem has great effects especially on women and children. It affects most children’s academic performances in school and most victims of domestic violence tend to loose their self confidence especially if not well counselled.
Moreover, children who witness or come from a violent background will become wild and violent in their relationship with people. Therefore, this study set out to examine the influence domestic violence on children’s academic performance using Nsit Ubium as a case study.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROBLEM
This study is aimed at evaluating the relationship between domestic violence and children’s academic performance in Nsit Ubium Local Government with the view of finding solutions to them.
The study would find out the following:-
1. How children react when faced with domestic violence.
2. To determine their relationship with other peers after being faced with such problems.
3. To determine how they cope with their academic works.
4. How they feel when abused or after being abused.
5. To determine various methods to be applied to reduce the rate of domestic violence among children and adults.
6. To describe how service availability has developed over time.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
i. What class of people does domestic violence affect?
ii. To what extent does it affect children academic performance?
iii. Is there service available?
iv. How consistent is thy system of response?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study would be of great help to victims and parents who are involved in domestic violence. In identifying some problems, people especially children face in their academic performance, and also psychological and emotionally with the view to finding possible solutions to these problems. It could act as source of information to child rights organizations and interested members of the public about how dangerous domestic violence could be and how bad its can affect children who witness it, especially in their academics. It might also be very valuable to members of the society, who are one way or the other affected by domestic violence as it could help them live a normal and fulfilled life, and also equip them on how they can handle domestic violence such that their children.
The researcher hopes that the study could lay a concrete foundation for further research in the subject under review.
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study area covers Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The scope of the study is restricted to the children and parents with few elders in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
The respondents were the children and some of the parents with some teachers in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
Due to limited resources, in terms of finance and time, the scope of the study is limited to children academic performance and how they are affected by domestic violence in Nsit Ubium.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Survivors: This is a term for the individual who is being targeted for abuse.
Abuser: Refers to the individual who is inflating the abuse.
Intimate relationship: Means a relationship between spouse, former spouse, past or present, unmarried couples.
System: A group of people and/or organization that serve a common purpose.
1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
For the purpose of study, analysis, neatness and clarity. This study is organized into five chapters.
Chapter one contains the introduction, background to the study, the statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of key terms, organization of the study.
Chapter two contains review of literature and theoretical frame work while chapter three embodies the research design, the population of the study, method of data collection, method of data analysis the study area, sample size and sampling techniques.
Chapter four contains test of hypothesis, data presentation, discussion of major finding.
Chapter five- with summary, conclusion and recommendation.
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