DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN UGANDA:

Abstract

This study focused on domestic violence and child development, a case study of Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District. According to the United Nations report on domestic violence (2020), domestic violence is typically a pattern of abusive behavior towards an intimate partner in a dating or family relationship, where the abuser exerts power and control over the victim. The study was guided by three specific objectives, that is; To establish the prevalence of domestic violence in Njeru Municipality Buikwe District. To discover the impact of domestic violence on child development in Njeru Municipality Buikwe District. To establish remedies to domestic violence. The study instruments used were questionnaires and interview guides and 67 respondents were sampled. The questionnaires contained closed ended questions while the interview guides contained open ended questions. The study employed simple random sampling technique which involves probability selection of respondents.The study revealed that domestic violence is prevalent in Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District and it has significant adverse effects on child development. It was found out that domestic violence adversely affects child’s mental, physical, moral and emotional development. This is because children who suffer domestic violence often exhibit low self-esteem, depression, helplessness, and some anti-social behaviors like drug abuse, isolating themselves from others, rebelling against parents, fighting among others. The study recommended community mobilization and sensitization should be adopted by stakeholders so as to educate the communities and wide public on the dangers and effects of domestic violence on child development. Government poverty alleviation programs should also be encouraged to control poverty for example strengthening the government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other programs. The government should also enforce its laws and policies against domestic violence, this laws and policies should strictly be adhered to and penalties given to those guilty of causing domestic violence.