Perceptions of Communication Strategies for the Prevention of Domestic Violence among Young Women in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study explored the perceptions of communication strategies for the prevention of domestic violence among young women in Delta State. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the young women’s understanding of and experience of domestic violence; access to specific communication strategies; perceptions of the communication strategies; the barriers that limits the effectiveness of the communication strategies and their recommendations. The study was anchored on the Health Belief Model (HBM).  The researchers used key informant interview as instrument for data gathering. A total of 30 young women who studied Mass Communication were purposively selected from the three Senatorial Districts of Delta State for the interview. The FormsApp was used to design the questions which were distributed online to the informants. Data generated was analysed using explanation-building technique. Findings, showed that the young women understand the concept of domestic violence, they had experienced and witnessed it, and they perceived the communication strategies were effective, impactful, supportive, inadequate but empowering. They had helped in increasing awareness, encouraging the use of support services as well as helped to change the behaviour of most young women towards domestic violence. They identified choice of communication strategy, stigmatization, social isolation, network glitch as some barriers that limit the effectiveness of the communication strategies. The researchers therefore recommended the continuous use of all available communication strategies to reach all young women.