ABSTRACT
Domestic violence is a social phenomenon that has caught the attention of all and sundry in recent times. In Nigeria, many women are brutally treated by their intimate partners and such act do not only affect the women but also their children. Children living in homes where intimate partner violence occurs are often exposed to such violence through witnessing, seeing its effects, hearing about it, or otherwise being made aware that violence is taking place between parents or caregivers. Exposure to intimate partner violence is considered to be a form of child maltreatment, and affected children often experience negative impacts on their mental and physical development.
This study was carried out to examine domestic violence against women and its impact on children development using Egor Local Government Area of Edo State as case study.Specifically, the study examined how the psychology of a child is impacted upon by domestic violence in the family, determined the impact of domestic violence on children attitudes and behavior with their peers and classmates, examined the psychosocial effects of domestic violence on the academic performance of students and effective intervention and strategies for curbing the negative impacts of domestic violence on children development. The study employed the survey descriptive research design and respondents were selected through the simple random sampling technique, the questionnaire was employed as the instrument of data collection. The questionnaire was semi-structured and respondents were asked to indicate by ticking Yes, No, or Uncertain to the option that best suited their responses to the items asked. Of the 200 questionnaire distributed, 200 answered questionnaire were returned by the respondents and they were analyzed.
From the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that domestic violence affects negatively children psychology. Also, domestic violence affect children’s interaction and relationship with their peers, more so, domestic violence have a negative impact on the psychosocial functioning of children. The study concluded that there is need for the implementation of strategies and intervention that can curb the effects of domestic violence on children. The study therefore recommended that educating people about family responsibility, as way of eradicating domestic violence among families and also the employment of counselors in schools who would help children who face domestic violence at home so as to prevent it affecting their academics.
Keywords: Abuse, Children, Domestic violence, intimate partner, Intervention.
