Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and coping strategies
of female survivors of abuse in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in the
Western Region of Ghana. The phenomenological research design rooted
within the qualitative approach was used in the study. Thirty female survivors
of abuse who were all married were interviewed from the Sekondi-Takoradi
Metropolis and data collected were analysed using thematic analyses. The
study found that the usual types of abuse experienced by the female survivors
of abuse were emotional, physical, economic and verbal abuse. The study also
showed that the abuses suffered by the female survivors were caused by
multiple factors. These causes included immaturity on the part of their
husbands, lack of respect for women, upbringing of men, negative peer
influence, and alcohol and drug abuse by their husbands. The study further
revealed that most of the respondents were living in constant fear and
discomfort because of their abuse experiences. The main forms of support
available to female survivors of abuse in their experience of abuse were their
friends, families and agencies such as the Domestic Violence and Victim
Support Unit (DOVVSU). It was recommended that Government should
through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection provide
financial and economic assistance for women who report abuse cases.
