Dr Matiur Rahman :
Domestic violence (especially violence against women or girls in the home or family environment) is a major social problem in Bangladesh. Domestic violence is the domain of the umbrella term- ‘Gender Based Violence’ perpetuated on women only. Women of all social and economic strata are being abused by husbands, in-laws, and other family members.
Available data suggest that the number of domestic violence cases is increasingly being reported in the newspapers, though a significant portion remains unreported. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), Bangladesh has become one of the top-ranking countries in violence against women by an intimate partners. Around 50 per cent of women within the age range of 15 to 49 in the country have experienced physical or sexual violence by their partners during their lifetime.
A study revealed that domestic violence also impacted women and their children physically, mentally. Physical problems are the most common result of domestic violence against women. It has been found that 63.5 per cent of the female respondents have opined that due to domestic violence on women, most of them suffer from cutting and injuries on the body. Around one-fifth (20 per cent) of them mentioned bone injury due to domestic violence.
Around 69.4 per cent of them mentioned that due to domestic violence, women’s internal organs of the body were damaged. About two-thirds (63.5 per cent) of them said that due to domestic violence, unexpected pregnancy occurred. Sometimes women become victims of forced sex by their husbands or other male family members and community, and as a result, victims of such forced sex may become pregnant unexpectedly. Sometimes it appears to be a syndrome of different gynaecological problems- around 8.2 per cent of the respondents, but about two-thirds (63.5 per cent) do not know about this issue.
Similarly, only 17.6 per cent of them think that due to violence against women, they may be affected with HIV/ AIDS and various sexually transmitted diseases. But around 63.5 per cent of them do not have any knowledge about it. Approximately 17.6 per cent have also told that it can be an unexpected abortion of pregnant women due to violence. But around 78.8 per cent of them do not have any clear idea about it.
About one-fourth (23.5 per cent) of them have mentioned kidney-related problems, but a good number of them (63.5 per cent) did not know about that. Around 17.6 per cent of them said that due to domestic violence, victim women feel deep pain in the bottom belly, but most (63.5 per cent) are not fully aware of the problem. More than two-thirds (70.6 per cent) of them do not have any idea about the issue that domestic violence may create a different syndrome of asthma-related problems for the victims.
Mental disorder due to domestic violence against women was also explored in the present research. Around 61.1 per cent of the respondents mentioned mental stress and illness due to domestic violence. In their opinion, victims women may suffer from frustration. About 12 per cent of them were found unaware of the issue. About two-thirds of the respondents (63.5 per cent) opined that women who became victims of domestic violence always remained in a frightening situation. On the other hand, 9.4 per cent of them were found unaware.
Around 61.1 per cent of the respondents have said that women who become the victim of domestic violence always feel tension. Around one-fifth of them (20 per cent) have also noted that domestic violence victims lost control over them. Similarly, only 15.3 per cent of them have agreed that domestic violence victims lost interest in sexual intercourse, but a majority of them, 63.5 per cent, do not know about this issue.
More than one-fourth (25.9 per cent) of the respondents have pointed out that domestic violence victims lost interest in eating. But a majority (63.5 per cent) do not know about it. Only 20 per cent of the respondents have said that victims suffer from havoc, but a large majority (63.5 per cent) do not see the issue.
More than One-fifth (21.2 per cent) of them have told that victims women may have a mental disorder. More than one-fifth (21.1 per cent) have mentioned that victims may commit suicide, but more than 63.5 per cent do not know about this issue.
Respondents have mentioned that there have several impacts of domestic violence on children. More than one-third of them (36.4 per cent) have noted that violence against women affects their children and several health-related problems created such as weight loss, sleeping problems, unwillingness to eat, fever, sufferings from malnutrition, etc. Also, the majority (63.5 per cent) mentioned that it created difficulties for children to adjust to peer groups, friends and playmates.
About one-fourth (24.7 per cent) of them agreed that children who experienced domestic violence kept themselves isolated. On the other hand, more than half (63.5 per cent) did not know about it. A large majority of the respondents (63.5 per cent) said that children of violent families get frightened always.
More than one-fourth (27.1 per cent) of them mentioned that children tended to hide themselves. Suicidal tendencies were found among those who experience domestic violence, and children were also found to be aggressive, as cited by 27.1 per cent of the respondents. On the other hand, around 63.5 per cent were unaware of it. More than one-fourth (27.1 per cent) of the respondents said that children who observe domestic violence lost interest in education.
To curb domestic violence against women, the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), voluntary organizations, and religious leaders should come forward to raise awareness about it. Mass media and Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Messenger, YouTube, etc.) can play a vital role in raising awareness about domestic violence.
(The writer is a researcher
and development worker).
