Family stress dynamics, domestic violence and their combined impact on perceived health status of women in Ghana

Abstract

This study utilized the classical ABCX family crisis model in identifying how families perceive, interpret and react to various sources of stress confronting them and their perceived impact on their health. The study is timely because of the recent upsurge in domestic violence cases in Ghana, which are mainly attributable to family stressors degenerating into crisis. Learning about how families cope with stress is therefore a critical step towards the institutionalization of long term feasible strategies aimed at addressing the social repercussions posed by stress on the health status of family members. A qualitative research design was adopted for the study involving forty conveniently sampled women as participants. It was evident in the study that women were more likely to be victims of domestic violence emanating from family stressors than men with its attendant adverse health implications for them and their children. Recommendations made include the following – that there is the need for effective counselling prior to marriage. The government needs to be more proactive in dealing with domestic violence. More severe sanctions need to be meted out to perpetrators of domestic violence to serve as deterrent to others. Women should be empowered and encouraged to seek help when exposed to any form of domestic violence with the hope that the agencies within the criminal justice system will not trivialize complaints made to them by women. This underscores the need for vigorous public education on the rights of women and why these rights must be fully respected.

Keywords: Family, Family Stress, Family Crisis, Domestic Violence, Health, and Women