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By PHEPHILE MOTAU | 2023-11-14
A study suggests that 47.5 per cent of adolescents (15-19 years) and 37.5 per cent of young adults (20-24) believe that it is justifiable for a husband to beat his wife under certain circumstances.
This is according to a report titled ‘Situation Analysis of SRH Including HIV and GBV Services for Adolescents and the Youth in Eswatini’ by the Ministry of Health.
According to the report published on the UNICEF website on October 6, 2023 the evidence from the report will enable relevant national programs to provide targeted interventions that will have maximum impact on reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, STI’s and unintended pregnancies, address gaps and barriers towards effective coverage of priority program interventions in priority areas and inform development of national plans to accelerate coverage of priority programs as well as improve data systems (monitoring and evaluation) on adolescents in Eswatini.
The report states the young people believe that wife beating is justifiable if the wife goes out without telling husband, if she neglects the children, if she argues with husband, if she refuses sex with husband, if she burns the food, if she refuses to accept step children, if she sleeps with another man, if she initiates sex and if she refuses to give food.
The report further shows that a majority of these individuals live in the rural area (88.5 per cent), have secondary school education (45 per cent) and they reported to be very happy (49 per cent).
The report further shows that GBV (physical, emotional, and sexual) cases reported in health facilities among the youth in 2019 were more prevalent among females (80 per cent of all reported GBV cases).
However, in the age group 10-14 years, more boys (62) reported to be exposed to physical violence compared to girls (44).
In the age group 10-24 years, Sexual violence (528) was the most common form of abuse, followed by physical violence (386) and emotional abuse (122).
It was stated that a total of 692 females aged 15-19 years reported to have experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months preceding the interviews, whereas 515 reported to experience physical violence.
Of the two GBV exposures, females in the age group 20-24 years reported more cases. Most of the self-reported cases were in the rural area (77 per cent), with secondary education (40.5 per cent) and in the lowest wealth index (26.5 per cent).
Among adolescents aged 10-14 years, more boys (62) reported to be exposed to physical violence compared to girls (44). Most of the cases were reported in the rural area (92 per cent), in the Hhohho region (34 per cent) and living in the lowest wealth index (34 per cent).
Exposed
The report shows that more females are exposed to and or report GBV (physical, emotional and sexual) across the three sources when compared to males (692 cases in SHIMS 2 and 245 cases reported in HMIS, 2019.
However, SHIMS 2 only reported GBV exposure for females.
GBV exposure data was drawn from three regions, Hhohho, Shiselweni and Lubombo, data on GBV cases was not available for the Manzini region.
Sexual violence is the most common form of abuse treated in health facilities, followed by physical violence and emotional abuse.
When disaggregated by age and mode of exposure, the age group 20-24yrs, is most vulnerable to physical abuse at (106). Sexual violence shows a significant exposure for the age 15-19yrs (213 cases) followed by age 10-14yrs (150 cases).
Emotional abuse was notably high as well with 51 cases among the youth aged 20-24 years, 44 for age 15-19 years, and 36 for age 10-14 years.
Physical violence was defined as being punched, kicked, whipped, beaten, slapped, pushed, shoved, choked, smothered, drowned or burned. It also included having an object thrown at oneself or being hurt or threatened with a knife, gun or other weapon. Sexual violence was defined as being physically forced to have sex.
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