Church of Nigeria’s (Anglican Communion) response to domestic violence against women in Nsukka local government area

Abstract

Domestic violence, especially against women, has become a frequent occurrence in recent times, and most of these incidents are not reported. This study examined the response of the Anglican church to domestic violence against women, using Nsukka urban as a case study. This study is imperative as it explores the extent of domestic violence in Nsukka and the danger it poses. This study adopted a mixed research design of quantitative and qualitative research methods. A sample of 60 respondents was purposively selected for the study (18 clergymen and 42 lay people). A structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used for data collection. Data were analysed using simple percentages and frequency counts, a descriptive method. Contribution: Findings revealed that high domestic violence prevalence in Nsukka. Also, emerging from the study, the high rate of domestic violence is induced in part by substance abuse, psychological disorders, poverty and, more importantly, traditional and religious belief and practice that promote male dominance. Although the church of Nigeria provides intervention, which primarily includes counselling for abused women, these interventions were found to be inadequate in effectively addressing this challenge.