Weak States, Terrorism and Sexual Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffiany Howard
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Weak States ◽  
Sub Saharan

Determinants of Sexual Violence Against Married Women: Qualitative Evidence From Ghana

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107906322091072
Author(s):  
Gervin A. Apatinga ◽  
Eric Y Tenkorang
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Married Women ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Core Idea ◽  
Ghanaian Women

Some evidence suggests that in sub-Saharan Africa, sexual violence is commonplace among married women, yet this problem is underresearched. Using qualitative methods and applying Heise’s social-ecological model, this study examined the experiences of 15 Ghanaian women suffering sexual violence in their marriages. Results from the thematic analysis indicate several determinants of sexual violence. Whereas some participants identified macro-level and exosystem factors, including poverty, others pointed to micro-level and ontogenic factors, such as husbands’ substance abuse. The results corroborate the core idea of Heise’s framework, namely, that structural- and individual-level factors make women vulnerable to violence. The study concludes that Ghanaian legal and policy frameworks must be enforced and strengthened to address the etiology of sexual violence and abuse.

scholarly journals Domestic Violence across 30 Countries in Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E Ssentongo ◽  
Emily S. Heilbrunn ◽  
Paddy Ssentongo ◽  
Dan Lin ◽  
Yanxu Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hotspot Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Meta Regression Analysis ◽  
Surrounding Areas

Introduction: Domestic violence is a prevalent global health issue that causes incredibly adverse consequences for an individuals physical and psychological health. The rates of physical and sexual violence in developing countries are thought to be some of the highest in the world, where up to 44% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa have experienced domestic violence. However, this has not been explored systematically. We present the first study to estimate the incidence and prevalence of physical and sexual violence across Africa. Methods: Poisson meta-regression analysis on demographic health survey data from 482,670 women from 442,507 households in 30 countries across Africa. Hotspot analysis using the Getis-ORD Gi approach at the sub-regional level. Results: Of 482,670 women, those who were divorced or separated were approximately 7 times more likely to experience physical violence and 6 times more likely to experience sexual violence compared to those who were never married (Risk Ratio: RRs:7.35, 95%CI 7.16-7.54 and 5.89, 95%CI 5.75-6.02 respectively). Likewise, wealth index and education level were inversely related to the incidence and prevalence of sexual and physical violence. Hotspots of sexual and physical violence were identified in Congo and surrounding areas. Conclusions: Interventions should be designed to address the high levels of physical and sexual violence in Congo and surrounding areas, especially in those who are less educated, have lower wealth indices, and are divorced or separated.

22. Sub-Saharan Africa

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bratton
Keyword(s):  
Political Action ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Weak States ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Regime Changes ◽  
Transitions To Democracy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Cold War

This chapter examines efforts to introduce multi-party politics into Sub-Saharan Africa during the 1990s. It first considers regime changes in the region and shows that they result from the ‘conjuncture’ of various forces. Some of these forces are structural — such as the decline of African economies, the end of the Cold War — but political actors produce others, like incumbents’ concessions, opposition protests, and military withdrawals from politics. With reference to various African examples, the chapter emphasizes the important role played by certain structural conditions in transitions to democracy during the 1990s, but suggests that outcomes more often hinged on purposive political action. It also analyses the quality of resultant African regimes and concludes by identifying several fundamental constraints on further democratization including endemic poverty and weak states.

24. Sub-Saharan Africa

2018 ◽  
pp. 384-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bratton
Keyword(s):  
Political Action ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Weak States ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Regime Changes ◽  
Transitions To Democracy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Cold War

This chapter examines efforts to introduce multi-party politics into Sub-Saharan Africa during the 1990s. It first considers regime changes in the region and shows that they result from the ‘conjuncture’ of various forces. Some of these forces are structural—such as the decline of African economies, the end of the Cold War—but political actors produce others, like incumbents’ concessions, opposition protests, and military withdrawals from politics. With reference to various African examples, the chapter emphasizes the important role played by certain structural conditions in transitions to democracy during the 1990s, but suggests that outcomes more often hinged on purposive political action. It also analyses the quality of resultant African regimes and concludes by identifying several fundamental constraints on further democratization including endemic poverty and weak states.

Barriers to Help-Seeking for Sexual Violence Among Married or Cohabiting Women in Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122110608
Author(s):  
Gervin A. Apatinga ◽  
Eric Y. Tenkorang
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Female Survivors ◽  
Financial Difficulties ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Depth Interviews

While sexual violence against women has gained attention in sub-Saharan Africa, research examining help-seeking remains limited. Scholarship on barriers to help-seeking among sexually abused married or cohabiting women is particularly lacking. We used the barriers model and held 15 in-depth interviews with sexually abused Ghanaian married or cohabiting women to examine help-seeking behaviors. Participants identified multiple barriers to help-seeking, including financial difficulties, lack of social support, and stigma. The results corroborate the barriers model's formulation of the challenges faced by female survivors in reporting violence. They indicate the need to improve laws to promote help-seeking among women with experiences of sexual violence.

Conflict period sexual violence against women: Promise of the vulnerability theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-85
Author(s):  
Judith A Oloo
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Conflict Situations ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Vulnerability Theory ◽  
Gender Based

Compared to most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya has, for a long time, enjoyed relative peace. However, this perceived peace has been marked with several incidents of internal clashes exposing women to large-scale gender-based sexual violence. While sexual violence is generally common in peacetime, it is exacerbated in conflict situations such as the post-election violence of 2007–2008 which saw mass incidents of rape and unprecedented killings in Kenya. This happened despite a robust legal framework prohibiting sexual violence. This article shows that the state’s to take cognisance of certain issues uniquely affecting women in Kenya in various aspects and contexts accumulate to disadvantage women, thereby making them more vulnerable. Second, the state’s failure to respond adequately to the unique plight of women during peacetime further exacerbates their suffering during armed conflicts. Thus, in a bid to find a better legal framework to protect women during conflict in Kenya, this article analyses the vulnerability theory of human rights which acknowledges that humans are generally and naturally vulnerable to certain elements. It concludes by stating that only when the vulnerability of women is understood and appreciated, can the law be effectively used to protect women against sexual and gender-based violence in conflict situations, among other hardships that women face, just by virtue of being women. It proposes among others a multidimensional approach including law reform, strict implementation of the existing law, economic inclusion of women and more investment in women as a remedy.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document