Domestic Violence Against Women In Kersa, Oromia Region , Eastern Ethiopia

Introduction: Violence, though the form and type vary from place to place is rampant in Ethiopia. Domestic violence related studies are few in rural areas where it is perceived as an accepted practice due to various reasons. The aim of this study was to identify type, perpetuator and reasons of domestic violence against women in the study site and give the information to the concerned bodies working for the betterment of women’s life.

Method: A community based cross-sectional interview-based survey was conducted from January to February 2008 in Kersa demographic Surveillance and Health Research Center field site on  858 females of reproductive age (15-49). The women were selected from 12 kebeles/local districts/ and proportional sample size of the existing householders in each kebele has been allocated to select the study subjects.

Result: Among women interviewed concerning violence, 337 (39.7%) reported to know what violence against women means. Majority, 186 (55.2%) reported that physical harm was the most common form of violence practiced in the community followed by verbal insult 104 (30.9.6%). Ever experience of violence by intimate partner was reported by 166 (19.5%) women; and (70.3 %) of the perpetuators were husbands. Ever experience of domestic violence among women was statistically significantly related with Amhara ethnicity (p=0.031), Christian religion, (p=0.019) and age group 40-49 (p=0.05). Only 33 (19.9 %) women who ever had the experience of violence had reported it to the legal bodies.

Conclusion: Twenty percent of women of reproductive age in the rural area of Kersa reported experience of domestic violence.Perpetuators were intimate partners/husbands. The legal system and women’s awareness of it as well as reporting violence are  not well developed. Socio-demographic and cultural factors hinder women not to disclose the case.

Key words:  Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner, Ethiopia, reporting