Manuscript Title:

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH MENTAL HEALTH AMONG WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES

Author:

ENISHAW TESHOME, SREEVALSA KUMAR R, SULPHEY M. M

DOI Number:

DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/4BNKF

Published : 2022-02-23

About the author(s)

1. ENISHAW TESHOME - Assistant Professor, Mizan Zepi University, Ethiopia.
2. SREEVALSA KUMAR R - Professor, School of Philosophy Psychology and Scientific Heritage, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
3. SULPHEY M. M - Professor, College of Business Administration, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.

Full Text : PDF

Abstract

This study explores the association of Gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health problems of women with disabilities (WWD) in Addis Ababa. The study was conducted on a sample of 303 randomly selected WWDs. The WHO GBV assessment instrument, PHQ-9, PTSD Checklist-Civilian version, STAI, and Rosenberg self-esteem scale were used to collect data. Data collection was done by trained assistant data collectors and a sign language translator. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and MANOVA followed by univariate post-hoc comparison and independent samples t-test. The results revealed that out of the total 303 WWDs, 255 of them experienced at least one element of GBV (physical, sexual, and psychological violence). The result from MANOVA found no significant difference in depressive symptoms, state anxiety, trait anxiety, PTSD, and self-esteem among four age groups for WWD who experienced GBV. Based on marital status, MANOVA, ANOVA, and post-hoc comparison showed a statistically significant difference between unmarried, married, and divorced WWDs for depressive symptoms. Similar results were obtained for self-esteem. For PTSD, there was a statistically significant difference between unmarried and married samples. MANOVA also revealed a significant difference in depressive symptoms, state anxiety, and PTSD among WWD who experienced and did not experience GBV. Generally, the result obtained in the present study indicated that WWDs are highly vulnerable to GBV. GBV was also found to have a direct association with mental health poblems. There is a definite need for researchers, clinicians, psychologists, policymakers, and others to alleviate the problem.


Keywords

Women with disabilities, Gender-based violence, Mental health.