DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG WOMEN AND THEIR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN RUBAVU DISTRICT RWANDA

ABSTRACT

Domestic violence has been defined as "the range of sexually, psychologically and

physically coercive acts used against women by current or former male intimate

partners (Danson, 2005), it's specific objectives sought to identify the demographic

characteristics of the respondents in terms of Age, Educational level and Number of

years worked, to determine the level of domestic violence of women in Rubavu

District Rwanda, to determine the level of social development in Rubavu District

Rwanda and to establish the significant relationship between the levels of domestic

violence of women and their social development in Rubavu.

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlates of domestic

violence of women and their social development in Rubavu District Rwanda, The

study used a descriptive correlation design that employed both qualitative and

quantitative methods of data collection. The research tool that was applied in this

study was devised questionnaires to determine the domestic violence and social

development. The findings indicated that domestic violence was generally high with

average mean of (2.81), social development generally high (average mean of 2.72)

and basing on the results, the null hypothesis was rejected and conclusions made

that domestic violence and social development in women in Rubavu District are

significantly correlated using pearson where r=(.964) and significant-value (000), yet

the results are insignificant above 0.05 level of significance.

Therefore, the researcher recommended the following: - there is need to

introduce new laws concerning women rights, this will reduce on the high levels of

domestic violence on women by the men in Rubavu district, women should be

sensitized and mobilized to take leadership position so that they can use their

leadership position to advance gender equality, which will reduce on the high levels

of domestic violence on women in Rubavu district, The researcher still recommends

that there is need to create new jobs majorly for women, encouraging gender

balance this will improve on the social development of women in Rubavu district,

despite of all these challenges, women have been proved to achieve many things

through government mobilization in the social development activities. This is

because women in Rubavu district are active, hardworking and trustworthy.

ix