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Introduction
Life is encumbered by different challenges and
living among fellow human beings has continued
to be imbued with crime to the extent that it has
been termed an essential tool for living. There can
be no cordial living without domestic violence as
a form of crime, and it should not be seen as vices
of evil but should be leveraged for better
coexistence and living. Our fundamental human
rights should be respected by all and sundry,
respect and dignity of each other must not be
crushed in the discourse of domestic violence as
we keep relating to each other through different
platforms of human relationship. Lefevre & Judge
CAUSES, EFFECTS AND MANAGEMENT OF DOMESTIC CRIMES
AGAINST WOMEN: A STUDY OF SAMPLED FAMILIES IN FCT ABUJA,
NIGERIA
1 2 3 4
Jacob Eneji Ashibi, Ameh Ugbedeojo Emmanuel, Ocheja Akoji, Egodo Helen Agan
1Department of Criminology and Security Studies, National Open University of Nigeria
2
eashibi@noun.edu.ng Department of Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution, National Open
3
University of Nigeria omaiyeameh@gmail.com Departmentof Criminology and Security Studies,
4
National Open University of Nigeria, aocheja@noun.edu.ng Departmentof Criminology and
Security Studies, National Open University of Nigeria hegodo@noun.edu.ng
Abstract
Despite frantic efforts to curtail the menace, domestic crimes remain prevalent especially among
women in the society. This study examines the causes, effects and management of domestic crimes
against women in the FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. It aims at unravelling the causes, effects and management of
domestic crimes as its primary objective. The qualitative research design was adopted for the study,
where the survey method consisting of thirty item questionnaire was utilised to elicit vital information
from the respondents. The stratified simple random sampling technique was employed in the
administration of a total of 390 questionnaires to a few select families. Data obtained from the field
were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings from the study
revealed that sexual, physical, psychological, emotional and economic abuses are among the types of
domestic crimes prevalent in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Furthermore, revelation of concealed
premarital history by spouse, decision on whether or not a wife should work and the type and place of
work she could be allowed, women's infertility, women's claim to equality with husbands, infidelity and
inability to satisfy partner were identified as some of the causes of domestic crimes against women. The
study also revealed that disruption of existing social and internal harmony, breeding of broken homes
and divorce; are some of the adverse effects of domestic crimes against women. Premised on these
findings, the study recommends that all forms of domestic crimes especially against women and
children be criminalised to deter potential offenders; Government should institute mechanisms for safe
and secured reportage of incidences of domestic crimes; and adequate counselling and rehabilitation of
victims of domestic crimes should be given priority by the state authority.
Keywords: Causes, Effects, Domestic Crimes, Management.
(2010) opined that domestic violence is as old as
the family institution and it exists in many spheres
of life. It is a process that begins when one party or
group perceives that another party or group has
negatively affected, or is about to negatively
affects something that the first party cares about.
Crime is a dysfunctional outcome that threatens
social harmony, peaceful co-existence, and
economic growth and development and as such, it
is harmful and should be avoided as it has a
negative connotation synonymous with such
terms as offenses, destruction and irrationality.
Scholars such as Kreitner & Kinicki (2010) with
NOUN Journal of Criminology and Security Studies Vol. 2 No. 2 July to December 2021
— 197 —
this perception, treat crime as a negative
pathological condition characterized by hostility,
struggle, breakdown of law, order, rules and
regulations, lack of cooperation, etc. Others posit
that it is a functional outcome and argue that it is
natural and inevitable in all social settings,
endeavours and organizations, and has the
potential to be a positive force in determining and
fostering community harmony, peaceful co-
existence, and national development (Kreitner &
Kinicki, 2010).
This perception sees crime as not only inevitable
but necessary in our social life and treats it as a
means that addresses issues like marginalization,
exploitation, injustice, abuse of power and
resources, etc. The belief is that it strengthens
equity and fairness, social interaction, economic
growth and development. The management of
domestic violence, therefore, connotes actions
taken to keep it from escalating beyond control.
This implies the ability to control the intensity of a
domestic crime and its negative effects, through
negotiation, intervention, and other institutional
mechanisms including traditional diplomatic
methods (Ajala, 2005). Crime can arise in
virtually any social setting, be it between or
within individuals, groups, communities, tribes,
states or nations. It brings about change and
change also brings crime and both are an
inevitable part of life (Kreitner & Kinicki, 2010).
Crime can become a serious problem if it is
allowed to escalate as it could create chaotic
conditions that make it nearly impossible for
people to relate or live together peacefully.
Domestic crime is gaining more momentum and it
is on the rise, in such a way that it has caught the
attention of the populace and the media especially
in Nigeria, to the extent that there are always daily
reports of domestic crime cases in the custody of
law enforcement agencies. Domestic crime is a
pattern of abusive behaviour in any relationship
that is used by one partner to gain or maintain
power and control over another intimate partner.
This definition adds that domestic crime can
happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual
orientation, religion, or gender”, and can take
many forms, including physical abuse, sexual
abuse, emotional, economic and psychological
abuse (Usoro, Ekpenyoung & Effiong , 2014).
Domestic crime is also known as domestic abuse,
spousal abuse, battering, family crime and
intimate partner crime culminating to serious
physical injury or death. This is to say it is a
pattern of abusive behaviours by one partner
against another in an intimate relationship such as
marriage, dating, family or cohabitation.
Domestic crime, so defined, has many forms,
including physical aggression or assault (hitting,
kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping,
throwing objects), or threats thereof; sexual
abuse; emotion al abus e; cont rolling o r
d o m i n e e r i n g ; in t i m i d a ti o n ; st a l k i n g ;
passive/covert abuse otherwise known as neglect;
and economic deprivation (Seimeniuk, Krentz,
Gish & Gill, 2010). Domestic crime and abuse is
not limited to obvious physical crime. It can mean
endangerment, criminal coercion, kidnapping,
unlawful imprisonment, trespassing, harassment
and stalking (National Network to End Domestic
Crime, 2011). Families from all social, racial,
economic, educational and religious backgrounds
experience domestic crime in different ways.
Thus, it is a phenomenon that involves any pattern
of behaviour that serves no legitimate purpose
and is intended to harass, annoy or terrorize the
victim.
In the world today, the twin issues of peace and
crimes have assumed a global perspective
because they are parts of the conditions that define
and shape human existence and well-being in the
present world (Shedrack, 2006) and in Nigeria,
there is a gross under-reporting and non-
documentation of domestic crime and crime in
general because of cultural factors (Afrol News,
2007; Oyediran & Isiugo-Abanihe, 2005; Aihie,
2009), yet, they are daily occurrences globally.
Many of these incidents are not reported officially
owing to the belief that the police and the judicial
system cannot help. In spite of that, domestic
crimes are resolved locally through indigenous
mechanisms at either the home or community
level by a third party who is completely neutral or
presumed to be neutral (Aihie, 2009).
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However, approaches to crime resolution include
crime management and crime resolution. While
crime resolution aims at helping involved parties
to arrive at agreed compromises, crime
management manages crime rather than
presenting a permanent solution to crime
(Lefevre, Colot, Vannoorenberghe, 2002;
Oyeshola, 2005). The strategy adopted for any
crime resolution exercise depends on the type,
cause and extent of the crime (Bolanle, and
Obafemi, 2014; Aluko, 2014). This study,
therefore, examines the causes, effects and
management strategies of domestic crimes
employed by resident families of Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja.
Literature Review
Conceptualizing Domestic Crime
The word domestic is described as relating to or
used in homes or everyday life within a
household. It also relates to or involves a family or
the people living together within a household
(Poelmans, 2010). Dzurgba (2010) views
domestic crime as a crime that has to do with
families and homes. Domestic crime can,
therefore, be described as a disagreement or clash
betw e en membe r s o f a hou s ehol d or
occupants/residents of a house over the use of
common facilities within (water, electricity,
kitchen, bathroom, toilets, stairs, laundry, etc.)
and around the house (Ellingsen, 2000). It is a
clash of interest, ideas and principles among
people co- habiting together.
It also reflects the difference in the mindset,
temperament, disposition and interest of people
(house owners, tenants, visitors) living in a house
in the use or handling, management and repair or
maintenance of facilities within the house
(Poelmans, 2010). Under domestic crime,
individual residents in a house routinely struggle
to maximize their own benefits in form of
unlimited use of shared facilities. Domestic crime
is an incident of the home that involves abuse,
scolding, yelling, booing, and sometimes
physical assault (Oyediran & Isiugo-Abanihe,
2005; Odetokun, 2007; Aihie, 2009) between a
house-owner and household member(s) or among
household members (female and male children),
between a house-owner and tenants, or among
tenants.
Domestic crime refers to the application of
physical or mental assault by one member of the
family on another, that is, where the victim and the
perpetrator have some form of personal
relationship or where they have shared or
experienced a similar relationship (Ojilere, 2008).
The spectrum of networks contemplated by
domestic crime is quite vast and includes people
who live together without formal approval
(cohabitation), partners in any transaction,
friendship and love relationships. In simple terms,
any abusive, violent, coercive, forceful or
threatening act or word inflicted by one member
of a family or household can constitute a domestic
crime. It was once considered one of the most
under reported crimes until it became more
widely recognized during the 1980s and 1990s.
Domestic crime, also known as domestic abuse,
spousal abuse, intimate partner violence/crime
(IPV), battering or family crime, is a pattern of
behaviour which involves crime or other abuses
by one person in a domestic context against
another, for example, in marriage or cohabitation;
it could also mean crime/abuse by a spouse or
partner in an intimate relationship against the
other spouse or partner.Many people do not
recognize themselves as abuser or victims
because they may consider their experience as
family misunderstanding that got out of control
( H a i k e t , Meg a n M cp h e r s o n , Mir k i n ,
Marschapravde, 2013).
Various individuals and groups have defined
domestic crime to include anything from saying
unkind and demeaning words to grabbing a
person's arm, hitting, kicking, choking or even
murdering. Although domestic crime most often
refers to crime between married or cohabiting
couples, it sometimes refers to crime or physical,
emotional abuse directed at other members of a
household, for example, children, siblings or
elderly relatives. Studies indicate that the
incidence of domestic crime among homosexual
couples is approximately equivalent to that found
among heterosexual couples (Aluko, 2014).
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Classification of Domestic Crimes
Domestic crime is perpetrated in different ways
including but not limited to physical aggression or
assault, sexual abuse, economic abuse, emotional
abuse, spiritual abuse and negligence.
i. Physical abuse
Physical abuse is perpetrated mainly by men on
women as a response to actual or suspected
infidelity, relationship inequality, financial
issues, over indulging in alcohol or substance
abuse and rejection of sexual advances. Physical
crime against women may occur in the form of
acid attack, molestation, female genital
mutilation and battering. It can be the culmination
of other abusive behaviour, such as threats,
intimidation and restriction of victim self-
dete rmin ation r i ght thr o ugh iso latio n,
manipulation and other limitations of personal
freedom (Council of Europe Domestic Crime
Campaign, 2015). Victims of physical crime are
inflicted with physical injuries such as minor or
major cuts, scratches and bruises, broke bones,
internal bleeding, head trauma, burn from acid,
hot water or oil, electric iron, naked fire, hot soup
just to mention a few.
ii. Sexual abuse
This includes all forms of sexual assaults, marital
rape, harassment or exploitation. It involves
forcing a person to participate in sexual activity,
using a child for sexual purposes including child
prostitution and pornography. Sexual abuse is
defined by World Health Organisation as any
sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act,
unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts
to traffic, or otherwise directed against a person's
sexuality using coercion. It also includes
obligatory inspections for virginity and female
genital mutilation (WHO 2013, The Forms and
Contexts of Crime). In many cultures, victims of
rape are considered to have brought dishonour or
disgrace to their families and face severe familiar
crime, including honour killing (“Ethics Guide:
Honour Crimes,” BBC Religion and Ethics,
2013). Incest or sexual contact between a relative
adult and a child, is one form of familial sexual
abuse (Fridell & Lorie, 1990).
iii. Economic abuse
This includes stealing from or defrauding a loved
one, withholding money for essential things like
food and medical treatment, manipulating or
exploiting family member for financial gain,
preventing a loved one from working or
controlling his/her choice of occupation.
Economic abuse diminishes the victim's capacity
to support themselves, increasing dependence on
the perpetrator, including reduced access to
education, employment, career advancement and
assets acquisition (Brewster, Mary P. August
2003). Forcing or pressuring a family member to
sign document to sell things or to change a will are
forms of economic abuse.
iv. Emotional abuse
This includes threatening a person of his or her
possession or harming a person's sense of self-
worth by putting him/her at risk of serious
behavioural, cognitive, emotional or mental
disorders. Emotional abuse includes shouting at a
partner which was found to be the most common
abuse. Also included in emotional abuse are
name-calling, criticism, social isolation,
intimidating or exploitation to dominate,
ro utinely making unreasonable demand,
terrorizing a person verbally or physically and
exposing a child to crime. The victims tend to feel
their partner has nearly total control over them.
Victims often suffer from depression, putting
them at increased risk of starvation, disorders,
suicide, drug and alcohol abuse (Hilberman,
Elaine 1984).
v. Spiritual abuse
This includes preventing a person from engaging
in his/her spiritual or religious practices or using
one's religious belief to manipulate, dominate or
control him/her. Spiritual abuse is complicated
and can include control of another person's
religious choice and beliefs, as well as using
religious belief to rationalise control over another
person. Spiritual abuse can occur in domestic
partner relationships it can also occur in
institutions, such as religious organisations or in
work place, education or care settings. Spiritual
abuse can happen to anyone, at any age,
regardless of religious affiliation. It may also
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include the misuse of religion for self, secular or
ideological ends such as the abuse of a clerical
position (Wright, Keith T.2001). Lambert defines
spiritual abuse as “a type of psychological
predomination that could be rightly termed
religious enslavement” (Lambert, P.253).
vi. Negligence
This includes failure to provide for dependents
who may be adults or children, denying family
members food, clothing, shelter, medical care,
and protection from harm or a sense of being
loved and valued. There exist many manifestation
of child neglect, including non compliance with
health care recommendations, failure to seek
appropriate health care, deprivation of food
resulting in hunger, and the failure of helping a
child to thrive. Other course for concern includes
the exposure of children to drugs and inadequate
supervision, poor hygiene and being deprived of
education have all been considered as evidence of
neglect. Official statistics often reveal little about
the patterns of child abuse. This is partly because,
in many countries, there are no legal or social
systems with specific responsibility for recording
let alone responding to reports of child abuse and
neglect (Bross DC et at World Perspectives on
Child Abuse, 2002). In addition, there are
differing legal and cultural definitions of abuse
and neglect between countries. There is also
evidence that only a small proportion of cases of
child maltreatment are reported to authorities,
even where mandatory reporting exists (Theodora
AD., Runga AK., Medical Research Agenda for
Child Maltreatment, 2017).
Domestic Crime Management
The response to domestic crime is typically a
combined effort between health care providers,
law enforcement, and counseling services.
a. Health Care Providers
Medical professionals do not see themselves as
being able to play a major role in helping women
in regards to domestic crime. Injuries are often
just treated and diagnosed, without regard for the
causes (Warsaw, C.1993). Health professionals
have an ethical responsibility to recognize and
address exposure to abuse in the patients, in the
health care setting. For example, the American
Medical Association's code of medical ethics
states that “due to the prevalence and medical
consequences of family crime, physicians should
routinely inquire about physical, sexual and
psychological abuse as part of the medical
history.” Physicians must also consider abuse in
the differential diagnosis for a number of medical
complaints, particularly when treating women
(Abuse of Spouses, Children, Elderly Persons
AMA-Opinion 2002).
b. Law Enforcement
A study was conducted by Lawrence Sherman in
1982, The Minneapolis Domestic Crime
Experiment, to evaluate the effectiveness of
various police responses to domestic crime calls
in Minneapolis, Minnesota; including sending the
abuser away for eight hours, giving advice and
mediation for disputes, and making an arrest.
Arrest was found to be the most effective police
response. The study found that arrest reduced the
rate by half of re-offending against the same
victim within the following six months (Maxwell,
Garner & Fagan, 2001). In the replication studies
which were broader and methodologically sound
in both size and scope, arrest seemed to help in the
short run in certain cases, but those arrested
experienced double the rate of crime over the
course of one year (Schmidt & Lawrence, 1993).
Generally, it has been accepted that if the
understood victim has visible (and recent) marks
of abuse, the suspect is arrested and charged with
the appropriate crime.
c. Counseling
For victims, since marital crime is major risk
factor for serious injury and even death, and
women in violent marriages are at much greater
risk of being seriously injured or killed;
counseling intervention is much needed. Initial
assessment of the potential for crime in a marriage
can be supplemented by standardized interviews
and questionnaire which have been reliable and
valid aids in exploring marital crime more
systematically. Counsellors and therapists should
also make the distinction between situations
where battering may be a single, isolated incident
or an ongoing pattern of control. If it becomes
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apparent to the therapist that domestic crime is
taking place in a client's relationship, the therapist
must explore options with the client; and also
refrain from blaming the partner or telling the
client what to do. It is unreasonable for the
therapist to expect that a victim will leave her
abusive spouse solely because she disclosed the
abuse. The therapist should respect the victim's
autonomy and allow her to make her own
decisions (Lawson, 2003). Therapists must be
aware that supporting assertiveness by a battered
wife may lead to more beatings or even death.
Even in few cases, when the wife leaves because
of life threatening situation, therapists should not
relax their vigilance after a battered wife leaves
her husband. Some data suggest that the period
immediately following a marital separation is the
period of greater risk for the women. Many men
will stalk and batter their wives in an effort to get
them to return or punish them for leaving.
However, for offenders, the main goal of
counseling for offenders of domestic crime is to
minimize the offender's risk of future domestic
crime, whether within the same relationship or a
new one. Treatment for offenders should
emphasize minimizing risk to the victim, and
should be modified depending on the offender's
history, risk of reoffending and criminogenic
needs. The majority of offenders' treatments are
conducted in a group setting with groups not
exceeding 12 participants. Groups are also
standardized to be gender specific (Colorado
Domestic Crime Offender Management Board,
2010). According to Roberts (2002), anger
management alone has not been shown to be
effective in treating domestic crime offenders, as
domestic crime is based on power and control and
not on problems with regulating anger responses.
Anger management is recommended as a part of
an offender treatment curriculum that is based on
accountability, along with topics such as
recognizing abusive patterns of behavior; it also
requires a great deal of personal change and the
construction of a self-image that is separate from
former abusive while still being held accountable
for it.
Theoretical Framework
The Frustration Aggression Theory of John
Dollard, Leonard Doob, Neal Miller, O.H.
Mowrer, and Robert Sears (1939) was adopted to
explain the causes of domestic violence. The
thesis of the theory holds that frustration caused
by interference in goal-directed activity does not
automatically result in aggression but produces a
readiness for aggression which if triggered can
result in aggression responses. The trigger may be
an insignificant element of behaviour such as a
casual joke, gesture or mild criticism which
would normally be overlooked, but to the
frustrated individual may be enough to provoke
an aggressive response. The theories agree that
there is a relationship between frustration and
aggression. The original theory posits that all acts
of aggression are the result of previous frustration
and all frustration leads to aggression. However
research found that this theory contradicted itself
in human application. Berkowitz (1989) argued
that the revised theory stresses the fact that only
certain frustrating situations, such as an
unsupport able drug a ddiction, p roduces
aggressive behaviour. He went further to say that
the frustration-aggression theory now recognizes
that the obstruction of a goal is not enough to
frustrate any person to the point of an aggressive
act. Frustration that causes acts of aggression are
instigated by an implicit or explicit drive to reach
the goal.
Frustration-aggression theory relates to people of
all ages and not specifically adults. An example of
frustration-aggression theory is an article written
by Taki and Tam (2007) where they compared
female bullying in Hong Kong to female bullying
in Japan. Their research revealed that factors like
ho me life, academic activities, societal
expectations and stress level contributed greatly
to the level of frustration and type of aggression
they demonstrated. They reported that although
all the different factors identified contributed to
the subjects frustration and aggression, it was
societal expectations and stress level that
accounted for most of the subjects frustration. It
was observed that girls from Hong Kong
expressed aggression through the frustrations of
academic activities and social behaviour, while
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the girls from Japan expressed aggression
because of societal expectations. Taki and Tam
(2007) maintained that stress is a major factor in
the frustration-aggression theory.
In relating this theory to the study, there is an
assumption that perpetrators of crime against
women do so as a result of frustration. It then
means that once a man is frustrated, he becomes
aggressive and may inflict crime on a woman.
This is not applicable to all cases of crime against
women. This theory has its shortcomings and
deficiencies since it does not capture fully other
social variables like culture and patriarchy which
are major contributory factors to crime against
women in African societies in general and Nigeria
in particular. We should realize that not all acts of
aggression from men are the result of previous
frustration and also not all frustration lead to
aggression. There may be other explanations for
domestic crimes in the society which the
frustration-aggression theory has failed to include
in its theses. Hence, theoretical triangulation may
be indispensable.
Methodology
The Research Design
The research design adopted in this study was the
survey method. This design was adopted because
of its appropriateness when a relatively large
sample of people is to be covered from a pre-
determined population. This is a descriptive
research and survey design is suited to descriptive
studies. The choice of this design was based on the
fact that the entire population cannot be covered,
therefore, sample representation was used in this
study.
Method of Data Collection/Analysis
The research instrument that was used for data
col lect ion wa s the que sti onna ire . The
questionnaire had twenty items which were
divided into two parts. Section A required
personal information about the respondents
which contained four items from numbers one to
four. Section B answered research question on
types, causes, effects and management of
domestic crime.
The drafted questionnaire was vetted by three
specialists in Home Economic Education in the
Department of Vocational and Technical
Education, ABU, Zaria, to determine the validity
of the instruments. The necessary corrections
were made on the vetted questionnaire items. The
data that was collected from the pilot study were
coded in using SPSS version 22 for the purpose of
determining the reliability co-efficient of the
instrument.
A pilot study was conducted in Gwagwalada Area
Council of Federal Capital Territory to determine
the suitability of the instrument for the study and
to ascertain any difficulty that may occur when
carrying out the actual research. In order to reduce
any ambiguity in the items, forty (40) copies of the
questionnaire were produced with thirty (30)
questions and distributed to the respondents who
responded to them, and thereafter collected.
The data collected from the pilot study were
statistically analyzed for the purpose of gathering
the reliability co-efficient. The Spearman-Brown
method was used to analyze the reliability
coefficient. Consequently, reliability co-efficient
of alpha level of 0.76 was obtained. This
reliability co-efficient was considered adequate
for the internal consistency of the instrument.
According to Spiegel and Stevens (1999),
instrument is considered reliable if it lies between
0 and 1.0 and that the closer the calculated
reliability coefficient is to zero, the less reliable is
the instrument, and the closer the calculated
reliability co-efficient is to 1, the more reliable the
instrument.
Table 1: Analysis of Respondents' Return of
Instrument
Source: Field Survey (2020)
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Table 1 above indicates that three hundred (300)
respondents representing 76.9% returned their
questionnaires while ninety (90) respondents
representing 23.1% failed to return their
questionnaires. In conclusion, the data analysis
will be based on three hundred (300) respondents.
Table 2: Showing the types of domestic crime
that is prevalent in Abuja
Source: Field Survey (2020)
Table 2 shows that majority of the respondents
agreed that physical abuse is among the
prevailing types of domestics. 266 representing
88.7% identified “Yes” as their option while a
small number of the respondents were 34
representing 11.3% picked “No”. The analysis
also showed that the respondents agreed that
sexual abuse is among the prevailing types of
domestic abuse with 268 representing 89.6% of
the respondents indicating “Yes” while 32
representing 10.7% indicated “No”. The
respondents also indicated their options by
agreeing with the statement that emotional abuse
is among the prevailing types of domestic crime.
The majority of the respondents indicated “Yes”
with 185 representing 61.7% while 115
representing 38.3% indicated their responses with
“No”. The respondents further expressed their
options by saying that psychology abuse is among
prevailing types of domestic crime, with 184
representing 61.3% of the respondents indicating
“Yes” while 116 representing 38.7% indicated
“No”. Finally, on the types of prevailing types of
domestic abuse, majority of the respondents
agreed that physical abuse is among the
prevailing types of domestics. 177 of the
respondents which are majority representing 59%
identified “Yes” as their option while 123
respondents representing 41% picked “No.
Table 3: Showing the causes domestic crime that
are prevalent among the residents of Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja
Source: Field Survey (2020).
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Table 3 above shows the distribution of
respondents responses on causes of domestic
crime that are prevalent among the residents of
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The analyses
show that 134 (44.7%) of the respondents
strongly agreed on that revelation of concealed
pre-marital history by spouse can cause domestic
crime, 104 (34.7%) of the respondents agreed,
nobody is indifferent while 5% disagreed on the
view. Also, 29 (9.6%) of the respondents strongly
disagreed that revelation of concealed pre-marital
history by spouse can cause domestic crime while
33 (11%) of the respondents disagreed.
On the second item on table 3, 99 (33%) of the
respondents strongly agreed that decision on
whether or not a wife should work and the type
and place of work can cause domestic crime, 92
(30.7%) of the respondents agreed, 6 (2%) were
indifferent. 40 (13.3%) strongly disagreed that
decision on whether or not a wife should work and
the type and place of work can cause domestic
crime while 63 (21%) disagreed. This implies that
majority are in support that decision on whether or
not a wife should work and the type and place of
work can cause domestic crime.
On the third item on table 3 above, 119 (39.7%) of
the respondents strongly agreed that inability to
bear children (infertility) can cause domestic
crime, 83 (27.7%) of the respondents agreed, 3
(1%) were indifferent. 31 (10.3%) strongly
disagreed that inability to bear children
(infertility) can cause domestic crime while 64
(21%) disagreed. This implies that majority are in
support that inability to bear children (infertility)
can cause domestic crime.
On the fourth item on table 3 above, 231 (77%) of
the respondents strongly agreed that wives claim
to equality with husbands can cause domestic
crime, 25 (8.3%) of the respondents agreed, none
of the respondents were indifference. 10 (3.3%)
strongly disagreed that wives claim to equality
with husbands can cause domestic crime while 34
(11.3%) disagreed. This implies that majority are
in support that wives' claim to equality with
husbands can cause domestic crime.
On the last item on table 3 above, 217 (72.3%) of
the respondents strongly agreed that infidelity and
inability to satisfy partner can cause domestic
crime, 42 (14%) of the respondents agreed, 5 of
the respondents (approximately 1.7%) were
indifferent. 12 (4%) strongly disagreed that
infidelity and inability to satisfy partner can cause
domestic crime while 24 (8%) disagreed. This
implies that majority are in support that infidelity
and inability to satisfy partner can cause domestic
crime.
Table 4: Shows the effects of domestic crime that
are prevalent among the residents of Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja.
Source: Field Survey (2020)
The table 4 above shows the distribution of
respondents' responses on the effects of domestic
crime that are prevalent among the residents of
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Causes, Effects and Management of Domestic Crimes against Women— Jacob E.A., Ameh U.E. etl al
— 205 —
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The first item on
table 4 shows that 109 (36.3%) of the respondents
strongly agreed that domestic crime can result to
noisy environment. 82 (27.3%) of the respondents
agreed, 6 (2%) of respondents are indifference
while 5% disagreed on the view. Also, 42 (14%)
of the respondents strongly disagreed that
domestic crime can result to noisy environment
while 61(20.3%) of the respondents disagreed. It
can be inferred that majority of the respondents
are in agreement that domestic crime can result to
noisy environment.
On the second item on table 4, 82 (27.3%) of the
respondents strongly agreed that domestic crime
disrupts existing social and internal harmony, 155
(51.7%) of the respondents agreed, 3 (1%) were
indifferent. 18 (6%) strongly disagreed that
domestic crime disrupts existing social and
internal harmony while 52 (17.3%) disagreed. It
can be deduced that majority of the respondents
are in support that domestic crime disrupts
existing social and internal harmony.
On the third item on table 4.8 above, 122 (40.7%)
of the respondents strongly agreed that domestic
crime can result into broken home and divorce,
135 (45%) of the respondents agreed, none of the
respondents were indifferent. None of the
respondents indicated to strongly disagree while
40 (13.3%) disagreed that domestic crime can
result into broken home and divorce. This implies
that majority are still of opinion that domestic
crime can result into broken home and divorce.
On the fourth item on table 4 above, 149 (49.7%)
of the respondents strongly agreed that domestic
crime can result in inflicting injuries and harms,
95 (31.7%) of the respondents agreed, 1 (0.3%) of
the respondents were indifferent. 11 (3.7%)
strongly disagreed that domestic crime can result
in inflicting injuries and harms while 44 (14.7%)
disagreed. This implies that majority are in
support that domestic crime can result in
inflicting injuries and harms.
On the last item on table 4 above, 93 (31%) of the
respondents strongly agreed that domestic crime
can expose the children of the victims to unruly
behaviour, 97 (32.3%) of the respondents agreed,
5 of the respondents representing (1.7%) were
indifferent. 45 (15%) strongly disagreed that
domestic crime can expose the children of the
victims to unruly behaviour while 60 (20%)
disagreed. It can then be agreed that majority are
in support that domestic crime can expose the
children of the victims to unruly behaviour. It can
therefore be concluded that domestic crime has
some negative effects on the victims, the family of
the victims and the society in general.
Discussion
The finding from table 2 shows that there are
different types of domestic crime. This results in
different forms of domestic violence within the
home. This is in line with the findings of Ityavyar
in Okpeh, (2005) who posited that domestic crime
is domiciled in the family where women,
children, and the youth are either direct or indirect
victims. Each of the types of domestic crime is at
different instances and circumstances.
Table 3 highlighted the causes of domestic crime
which include not revealing of pre-marital
history, decision on among the couple whether or
not a wife should work and the type and place of
work can cause domestic crime, wives' claim to
equality with husbands can cause domestic crime,
inability of wife to bear children and infidelity and
inability of the spouse to satisfy each other
sexually. These have caused so much disharmony
in home and majority of the domestic challenges
being reported to law enforcement agency lies so
much on the aforementioned. This has subjected
many homes to undue ridicule as many cannot
manage this problem.
Table 4 showed that there are different effects of
domestic crime which include infliction of
injuries, broken home and divorce, noisy
environment, disrupt in harmony and children
becoming unruly in their behaviour due to the
psychological effects of it. This is in line with
Dogg (2009) that posited there has been an
increase in acknowledgment that a child who is
exposed to domestic abuse during his upbringing
will suffer in his development and psychological
welfare. Some emotional and behavioural
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Causes, Effects and Management of Domestic Crimes against Women— Jacob E.A., Ameh U.E. etl al
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problems that can result due to domestic crime
include increased aggressiveness, anxiety, and
changes in how a child socializes with friends,
family and authorities. In line with sustenance of
injuries as part of effect of domestic crime, Jones
(1997) said bruises, broken bones, head injuries,
lacerations and internal bleeding are some of the
acute effects of a domestic crime incident that
require medical attention and hospitalization.
Conclusion & Recommendations
Domestic crime has been identified as a serious
social, economic and psychological problem that
is pervasive in Nigerian society, Federal Capital
Territory inclusive. In most cases, it is perpetrated
in secluded places under several cultural and
societal no rms ; the ou tco mes m ay be
emotional/psychological trauma, physical
injuries or even death. Domestic crime has many
effects and profoundly destructive consequences
for the victims. Therefore, there is need to take
cognizance of the physical and psychological
well-being of victims who are exposed to
different domestic crimes in our society. This
study has identified measures that are necessary to
mitigate the effects of domestic crime, there is
need to take cognizance of the physical and
psychological well-being of the victims who are
exposed to different domestic crime in the study
area.
Based on the findings of this study, the following
recommendations are made:
i. Domestic crimes against women and
children should be seen and treated as a
criminal act and not a private issue by the
police and all law enforcement agencies.
ii. There should be institutional mechanisms
where those who are victims of domestic
conflict can feel free to report acts of crime
against them in a safe and confidential
environment.
iii. Victims of domestic crime and child abuse
should be encouraged to seek professional
help through counselling to help them move
on from the effects of the crime and abuses
they have been exposed to. Counselling of
victims can restore the self esteem and
confidence lost by the victims during the
period of family domestic crime and child
abuse.
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