2.4.4.3 Health effects
The victims of domestic violence develop different health
related problems. Physical and mental complications may accompany abuse. Bahige
(1994:290) states that women victims of domestic abuse suffer grave physical
wounds which sometimes cause trauma and therefore impede medical care
effectiveness. Mukwege and Mays (2009:43) mention among others arthritis,
diabetes, heart diseases and hypertension that are often detected among older
female victims. Stark (1986:23) supports that such complications worsen the
victims' lives as the perpetrator cannot allow or assist the victim to accede
to medications or appropriate medical care. In South Kivu, recent reports show
that women and girls suffer physical injuries like broken bones, head wounds,
pelvic pain, abdominal and gastrointestinal complaints due to domestic
battering (UNIFEM, 2007). If the woman experiences violence while pregnant, she
may not gain much weight, run the risk of pre-term delivery or miscarriage,
birth of infant with low weight and injury to or death of the foetus (WHO,
2006).
2.4.4.4 Sexual effects
In most cases, domestic violence overlaps with sexual abuse.
The victim is compelled to sex beyond her preparation and willing (Gelles,
1997).This often culminates in unwanted pregnancies or contamination of STDs,
including HIV/AIDS, fights and eventually separation (Mossi and Duarte, 2006).
To the US Bureau of Census (1997:8), the upshots of brutal, inappropriate and
hurtful sexual intercourse remains indelible in the mind of the victim since
she develops feelings of guilt, shame, fear, bitterness, lowered self-esteem
and depression for long periods. Sexual abuse often makes the victim to lose
trust in the abuser, develop incapacities to rest and enjoy sexual activities,
become a misogynist, or be reluctant to experience sexual pleasure (Olson and
DeFrain, 2000:203 and Melgosa and Melgosa, 2008:46). These finally develop the
victim's failure to reach sexual orgasm, which causes masturbation,
unfaithfulness or divorce (Finkelhor, 1986:123).
2.4.4.5 Economic effects
As most world societies are patriarchal, this causes some
women not to easily gain economic means. In fact, women rely on men who are the
only owners of economic assets and besides, girls and women cannot inherit from
their fathers once they are deceased (Russell 1996:97 and Women Watch, 2000).
In accordance with the US Bureau of Census (1997:3), almost 30% of the women
abused in their homes lose their jobs because of direct and repeated assault by
the husband. Actually, Gelles (1997:61) avers that women victims of domestic
abuse may move several times away from the abuser; but if she were employed,
this hampers on her job's stability. Therefore, the victim becomes more
destitute, which worsens her situation and that of her children (Strauss and
Gelles, 1986:79).
2.4.4.6 Damage on marriage
Marriage is not safe with domestic violence. The victim
suffers low self-esteem, which is due to lack of skilful communication between
the couple (Stern and Beir, 1977:12). As stated by Boonzaier (2008:69),
violence in marriage shrinks the couple's harmony and often, this culminates in
separation or divorce. To Levy (1991:21), this happens because of the abuser's
emotional violence that has been applied to the wife, blaming her for his own
bad behaviour or hold her accountable for actions he has failed to control in
the home.
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