Contextual Attributes of the Family and Community that Encourage or Hinder the Practice of Intimate Partner Violence in Nepal. Open Access

Nwokolo, Chidumebi Adaeze (2017)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/dv13zv03g?locale=en
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Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health issue overwhelmingly borne by women irrespective of social, economic, religious or cultural group. IPV in Nepal is underlined by the deeply rooted culture of male dominance and female subservience [1]. This thesis seeks to uncover characteristics of the family and community that affect gender equity and IPV in this context to harness the influences of these factors in violence prevention programming. Methods: The study is set in three Nepali districts; Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu. Data includes focus group discussions with community leaders (N= 3 groups) and family members of participants (N=12 groups) conducted as part of the baseline data collection of the Change Starts at Home Project; a cluster randomized trial of a multicomponent intervention designed to prevent IPV among married women in Nepal. Discussions were conducted in Nepali; transcripts generated then analyzed with Grounded Theory. Results: In this study context, the delineated roles of the male and female within the family and community have overarching effects on what opportunities are granted to them. The behavioral expectations of masculinity and femininity within the family and community operate symbiotically to protect the practice of intimate partner violence because they further the notions of male dignity, female tolerance, conditional acceptance of IPV and intervention being seen as interference. The experiences of a married woman within the home are affected by the dowry system and her relationship to the husband's family, specifically the mother-in-law. Alcohol emerged as an important factor in IPV occurrence. Conclusions: A multi-level myriad of factors alter the risk of being a victim or perpetrator. Recommendations for addressing IPV include targeting young children, female autonomy, wife as property and alcohol abuse in IPV prevention strategies, addressing the cycle of abuse from daughter-in-law to mother-in-law and discussing the idea of ‘interference'.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS


CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1
CONTEXT OF PROJECT 1
PROBLEM STATEMENT 2
PURPOSE OF PROJECT 3
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW 3
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 3
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE 4
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN NEPAL 6
SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE STUDY POPULATION 7
CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY 10
STUDY CONTEXT AND PARTICIPANTS 11
DATA COLLECTION 12
DATA ANALYSIS 13
DATA VALIDATION MEASURES 14
CHAPTER IV. RESULTS 14
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 14
THEMES 15
CHAPTER V. DISCUSSIONS 40
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 44
CHAPTER VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 45
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS 47
FUTURE RESEARCH 49
TABLES AND FIGURES 50
FIGURE 1: ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING VIOLENCE (WHO) 50
FIGURE 2: STUDY DISTRICTS AND CHARACTERISTICS 51
FIGURE 3: CONTEXTUAL FACTORS THAT ENCOURAGE (+) OR HINDER (-) THE PRACTICE OF IPV IN NEPAL 52
TABLE 1: TABULATED PRESENTATION OF MAIN THEMES WITH SUMMARY QUOTATIONS 53
APPENDIX 66
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES 66

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