International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue III, March 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Causes, Prevention and Solutions to Domestic Violence against Women in Cameroon: A Qualitative Study of Opinions from Perpetrators and Victims

Teke Johnson Takwa¹, Johnson Sambitla Tita-Fangmbung^2
1Central Bureau for Censuses and Population Studies, BUCREP, Yaoundé-Cameroon
²PhD Student in Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, Atlantic International University Honolulu USA.

Abstract: – Information on domestic violence against women in Cameroon comes essentially from various operations of Demographic and Health Surveys and is essentially quantitative and incomplete for the proper understanding of this social ill. Quantitative data has revealed that the frequency of this ill in Cameroon is high and even higher than many other sub-Saharan countries. In order to better grasp how the key perpetrators of domestic violence (men) and the main victims (women), perceive the causes, consequences, prevention and solutions to the problem, a focus group discussion of six women and five men was organized in each of Cameroon’s ten regional capitals. The study revealed that despite divergent perceptions of gender-based domestic violence, both female and male discussants in a majority considered it bad and good for elimination. However, some men feel that it can be good if it is mild and aimed at correcting the wrongs of a woman. Some women, especially in the South, East and Centre regions of Cameroon, feel that some degree of domestic violence against them is necessary to serve as an expression of love. On a whole, both men and women participants at the focus group discussions see gender-based domestic violence as a social ill that needs religious, traditional, judiciary and administrative authorities to combat as well as individual self-control.

Key words: Gender-based domestic violence, households, perpetrators, victims, Cameroon

I. INTRODUCTION

The United Nations defines domestic violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty exercised by somebody with whom they share an intimate relationship”. It is an age-old social ill that is practiced in all societies both developed and undeveloped. Victims can be of any age, race, culture, religion, education, employment or marital status. Although both men and women can be abused, most victims are women.