Lived Experiences and Coping Strategies of Female Survivors of Abuse in Sekondi-takoradi Metropolis, Ghana

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.