Gender

SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Gender, Gender Based Violence, Health, Health Communication, Speak Wednesday, Teenage Pregnancy, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN

Domestic violence unlike other forms of violence is the most entrenched and pervasive form of violence in our society today. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, homes where violence between partners occur, there is a 45% to 60% chance of co-occurring child abuse, a rate 15 times higher than the average. This is to show that even when children are not physically attacked, they witness 68% to 80% of domestic assaults.

The effects of domestic violence can be devastating and long lasting especially on children. Witnessing abuse and living in an environment where someone else, usually a care giver is a victim of abuse, can be psychologically devastating for a child. Such children often believe that they are to blame, live in a constant state of fear, and are 15 times more likely to be victims of child abuse.

Wikipedia states that Children in homes where one parent is abused may feel fearful and anxious. They may always be on guard, wondering when the next violent event will happen which can cause them to react in different ways, depending on their age and this may include but not limited to delays in cognitive and emotional development, extreme withdrawal or aggressiveness, anxiety disorders, internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. These children are also at higher risk for health problems as adults, these can include mental health conditions, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, poor self-esteem, among others.

Children who are witnesses to domestic violence have a greater likelihood of repeating the cycle of violence as adults by entering abusive relationships or becoming abusers themselves. For example, a boy who sees his mother being abused is a lot more likely to abuse his female partner as an adult. A girl who grows up in a home where her father abuses her mother is according to research more than six times as likely to be sexually abused as to a girl who grows up in a non-abusive home.

How successful a child is at recovering from abuse or trauma depends on several factors. Children can be resilient or sensitive to issues of abuse. Having good support systems or good relationships with trusted adults and healthy friendships can aid in easy recovery. The sooner a child gets help, the better his or her chances for becoming a mentally and physically healthy adult.

Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) through its psychosocial support programs has reached thousands of children who are vulnerable and exposed to any form of violence. Also, Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender-based violence and gender bias.

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Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, Speak Wednesday, Teenage Pregnancy, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

EFFECTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Effects of Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in a woman 19 years of age or younger. A woman can get pregnant if she has vaginal sex with a man at any age after she’s begun having regular monthly periods.

Teenage pregnancies are a global problem that occurs in high, middle, and low income countries. However, there is a higher prevalence in marginalized communities, commonly driven by poverty and lack of education and employment opportunities. According to World Health Organisation (W.H.O), approximately 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 years and 2.5 million girls under 16 years give birth each year in developing regions and the leading cause of mortality for this age group is complication during pregnancy and childbirth. Many girls face considerable pressure to marry early and become mothers at a tender age. Teenage pregnancy increases when girls are denied the right to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

Studies show that teen mothers face significant levels of stress that can lead to increased mental health concerns. In addition to higher rates of postpartum depression, teenage mothers have higher rates of depression. Pregnant teens also have a higher chance of becoming anemic which is a reduction in the number of red blood cells (RBCs). This can make you feel weak and tired and can affect your baby’s development. They also have higher rates of suicidal ideation than their peers who aren’t mothers. Teen mothers are more likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other teenage women, as well and this is attributed to the fact that they are more likely to have gone through mental and/or physical abuse.

Many pregnant teens drop out of school, and some never complete their education which means that a large proportion of mothers who get pregnant as teenagers live in poverty and are not able to realize their full potential. Their children are not left out also, born to a teenage mother, they have greater risk for lower birth weight and infant mortality; less prepared to enter kindergarten; are more likely to be incarcerated at some time during adolescence; are more likely to drop out of high school; are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed as a young adult.

When teenagers engage in sexual relationships, they do not think about the consequences. That is why it is pertinent to invest much in the issue of reproductive health with more emphasis on adopting the right attitudes about responsible sexual behavior.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender based violence and gender inequality. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Gender, Health, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, Postpartum Depression / cfhinitiative

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION (PPD)

Postpartum depression (PPD) or postnatal depression is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioural changes that happen in some women after giving birth. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), PPD is a form of major depression that begins within 4 weeks after delivery.

Symptoms of postpartum depression can be hard to detect. However, many women have these symptoms following childbirth: Difficulty sleeping, change in appetite, excessive fatigue, decreased libido, frequent mood changes, depression, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, panic, thoughts of hurting someone else, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The OCD obsessions are usually related to concerns about the baby’s health, or irrational fears of harming the baby.

There is no one cause of postpartum depression. A number of factors can increase the chances: A history of depression prior to becoming pregnant, or during pregnancy; Age at time of pregnancy; Ambivalence about the pregnancy; Number of children — the more children, the more likely it is for one to be depressed in a subsequent pregnancy; Having a history of depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD); Limited social support; Loneliness during pregnancy; Marital conflict; Sleeplessness; Anxiety; Hormonal imbalance — The dramatic drop in oestrogen and progesterone after giving birth may play a role. Other hormones produced by the thyroid gland may also drop sharply and make one feel tired, sluggish, and depressed.

The diagnosis of postpartum depression is based not only on the length of time between delivery and onset, but also on the severity of the depression. PPD often keeps one from doing their daily activities. Hence, when the ability to function is affected, it is important to consult a health care provider, such as Obstetrician-gynaecologist or primary care doctor, who will screen for depression symptoms and develop a treatment plan. This is because PDD symptoms worsen when left untreated. Though PPD is a serious condition, it can be treated with medication and counselling.
Postpartum depression is treated differently depending on the type and severity of a woman’s symptoms. Treatment options include anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, and participation in a support group for emotional support and education. For severe cases, intravenous infusion of a new medication called brexanolone (Zulresso) may be prescribed.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of CFHI to address basic health issues. Join us every Monday on all our social media platforms for more health-related articles.

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16DaysOfActivism, Female Genital Mutilation, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Health / cfhinitiative

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AND ITS EFFECTS

“Have you ever heard of Female genital mutilation? The doctor asked me. This was after my over 20 hours of labor, an ordeal which left me depressed for over a month. It took me a while before I responded because it was the least question I ever would imagine answering at such moment.
I had just come out of one of the difficult deliveries he had ever carried out he continued after I replied “yes”. A delivery which at first didn’t seem like I was going to spend more than 6 hours at most because I was 100% effaced and with my labor progression, getting dilated would not be so much of a trouble. After being fully dilated and the baby just wouldn’t come down the delivery canal, an assisted delivery using a vacuum extractor was performed which left me with a vaginal hematoma and still with no baby, I was opted for a caesarean section due to the excessive bleeding and the other effects an obstructed labor has on both mother and unborn child. After all the medical jargons, he finally disclosed I had been genitally mutilated probably as a child and it was the reason for the complications I had just experienced.”

The above near death experience was recounted by Mrs Mary Alex, a human rights activist and a current volunteer at Centre for Family Health Initiative ……….

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a traditional practice that has no medical benefit and severe health consequences for girls and women. According to Wikipedia, It is a procedure that involves partial or completely removing the external females genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whenever for non-medical reasons. FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It deprives them of the opportunity to make critical and informed decisions about their sexuality. It is an act which is deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and perceptions. Data shows that Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest number of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide. About 20 million women and girls in Nigeria have undergone female genital mutilation which is 10% of the global total.

There are 4 types of FGM; Type I, Type II, Type III and Type IV. Types I and II are most prevalent, but variation exists within countries and communities. Type III is experienced by about 10 per cent of all affected women. FGM has serious implications for the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women. Its effects vary depending on the type performed, the expertise of the practitioner and the conditions under which it is performed. Complications can include severe pain, shock, hemorrhage, infection, urine retention and more. In some cases, hemorrhage and infection can be severe enough to cause death. Long-term risks include complications during childbirth (difficult delivery, excessive bleeding, caesarean section, need to resuscitate the baby, etc.) and newborn deaths; vaginal problems (discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis and other infections); menstrual problems (painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood, etc.); scar tissue and keloid; sexual problems (pain during intercourse, decreased satisfaction, etc.) and psychological problems (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, etc.) among others.

Despite the graveness of the issue, the practicing societies consider it as a necessary part of raising a girl, and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. It is seen as a sure medium to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity.
Currently, 13 out of 36 states in Nigeria have their own individual state laws expressly prohibiting FGM/C. These states are Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Ogun, Delta, Ebonyi, Oyo, Imo, Edo, Cross-River and Rivers. The 2015 Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) acknowledges FGM as a criminal act, however since its enactment, there has been no convictions. Out of the 36 states, only 4 states: Abuja, Anambra, Oyo and Ebonyi have domesticated or actively enforced the law.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender based violence and gender inequality. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

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Gender, Speak Wednesday, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO EDUCATION

Education is a basic human right and has been recognized as such since the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Every one has the human right to education, training and information. Despite widespread agreement that all people have the fundamental human right to education, the United Nations Statistics Division states that 100 million children, with 60% of them being girls, do not have access to primary education. 960 million adults in the world are illiterate, and more than two-thirds of them are women. Women and girls continue to face discrimination at all levels of education, a fact which poses grave hindrance to their advancement. Equality of access to all levels of education is crucial to empowering women and girls to participate in economic, social and political life of their societies. Education unlocks a woman¹s potential, and is accompanied by improvements in health, nutrition, and well-being of women and their families.

According to the United Nations office of the high commissioner on Women and the right to education, it says: “Article 10 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, states that the right to education is the entitlement to access free primary education, and to have equal opportunities to continue with further studies. Such education must be inclusive and accessible to girls and boys, women and men, in law and in practice. Education is not only a right in itself, but is also the surest way to empower individuals to enjoy all of their human rights”.

Women in Nigeria have had various challenges in order to obtain equal education in all forms of formal education. Although more women and girls go to school today, the access to formal education is still being constrained especially in rural communities. They face multiple barriers based on gender and its intersections with other factors, such as age, ethnicity, poverty, and disability. Other barriers to access quality education include among others: harmful gender stereotypes and wrongful gender stereotyping, child marriage, early and unintended pregnancy, paid and unpaid care work which continues to be disproportionately borne by women and girls, gender-based violence against women and girls, lack of inclusive and quality learning environments, inadequate and unsafe education infrastructure, including sanitation.

Research shows that there is an improved health and an overall increase in quality of life of educated women. Educated women are more likely to seek proper medical care both for themselves, especially maternal care and their children. Likewise, higher rates of female education correspond with lower HIV and STD rates. There is a less occurrence of child marriages and teenage pregnancies if the prospects are educated. Many experts agree that focusing on women’s education is one of the best investments a developing nation can make, because female education rates are directly correlated with national economic growth. Educated women are more likely to hold stable jobs, less likely to be in poverty, and more likely to contribute to the overall economy.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative to stop the cycle of domestic violence by breaking the silence around gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.

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Gender, Mental Health, Speak Wednesday, Women, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The right of women to be free from DOMESTIC VIOLENCE has drawn increasing concern and support since the 1970s. According to Wikipedia, “Domestic violence (also named domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation. It takes a number of forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, and sexual abuse, which can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and to physical abuse.

Studies have shown that globally, domestic violence accounts for nearly one quarter of all recorded crimes. The fact that domestic violence prevails across all classes of the Nigerian society is no longer disputable. Despite the boisterous efforts made by the world bodies such as the United Nations (e.g. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights) and Nigeria’s constitutions to eliminate discrimination and violence against women, and promote the idea of equality and justice, the Nigerian woman is often violated.

Domestic violence directed against women by intimate partners is an epidemic of global proportions that has devastating physical, emotional, financial and social effects on women, children, the family and the community. However, it is important to note that domestic violence can also be perpetrated against men.

In Nigeria, women’s rights are largely trampled upon because of many factors. There is the lack of trust in constituted authorities to look into cases of abuse. In fact, the “penal code of the northern Nigeria” do not recognize this as an act worth bringing before the law. It is rather seen as a compulsory disciplinary measure which to some uneducated traditionalists has proven to be very effective. Also, the requirements to prove rape cases in “section 179(5) of the evidence Act” form another hurdle.

To promote gender equality and ensure protection of fundamental human rights, perpetrators should be made to face the consequences of their actions. Also, stiffer penalties have to be put in place to discourage prospective abusers like rapists. Over the years, Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) has brought awareness to women in local communities on their rights and created avenues to seek redress in cases of abuse. It has also exposed many women to information about the Violence Against Persons Prohibition(VAPP) Act of 2015, for better understanding of their human rights.

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40 Comments / Gender, Speak Wednesday, Uncategorized, Women / cfhinitiative

WOMEN DEALING WITH EMOTIONAL ABUSE

According to Tracy, N. (2012, July 29), emotional abuse is one of the most common forms of abuse that occurs in close relationships. It is also known as psychological abuse. Emotional abuse Is when something is consistently said, implied or done intentionally to hurt someone’s feelings over an extended period of time. It is about one person maintaining power or control over another person which usually takes place between intimate partners.

Emotional abuse can include verbal assault, dominance, privacy invasion, economic subordination, control, isolation, gas lighting, ridicule, or the use of intimate knowledge for degradation. It targets the emotional and psychological well-being of the victim, and it is often a precursor to physical abuse. Studies show that women are at a disadvantaged point and have a higher chance of being abused emotionally due to the deep-rooted patriarchal nature of the society and of men controlling ‘their’ women.

Emotional abuse may be less obvious than physical abuse, but can still have devastating effects on the mental health and wellbeing of the victim. Effects of emotional abuse on women could be short or long-term. According to different reports, psychological or emotional abuse in women can be linked to poor relationship satisfaction, anxiety, depression, insomnia, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, increased physical health problems (such as migraine, indigestion, stomach ulcers, chronic pain and chronic disease), among others. Emotional abuse may be contributing factors to the development and/or severity of illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Victims of emotional abuse often times feel embarrassed to report or open up about issues of emotional abuse especially those with no physical evidence. However, it is necessary to seek help or counselling either from a friend, a doctor or a relationship or family counsellor to avoid the adverse effects it may have on your general well-being.

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Gender, Speak Wednesday, Suicide Prevention, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

WOMEN DEALING WITH SUICIDE

Wikipedia defines suicide as the act of intentionally causing one’s own death. Suicide is a public health problem, and it is seen as a public health priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, Suicide is the result of an act deliberately initiated and performed by a person in the full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and it is considered the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year old.

Studies show that women make more suicide attempts than men, but men are more likely to die in the attempts than women. In Nigeria, most people do not believe depression is an illness, neither do they know the extent to which it affects the mind. Yet, between January and June 2019 alone, there were 42 reported cases of suicide that occurred in different parts of the country. An example is the story of Hikmat Gbadamosi, a 100-level student of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She was alleged to have consumed two bottles of insecticide (Sniper) after showing signs of depression and had opted to live away from her colleagues in the school.

According to Centre for suicide prevention, identified risk factor for suicide attempts and other suicidal behaviours in women include postpartum depression (PPD) affects around 15% of women and is experienced after giving birth and for up to one year after, prenatal period (The time during pregnancy and the first year after the birth of a child)- most women who die during this period have an affective or anxiety-related disorder, domestic violence (women experience partner violence nine times more than men according to different research) which in turn leads to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and childhood sexual abuse. Other risk factors may include family history of suicide, family conflict, broken homes, anti-social behaviour, and poor peer relationships.

Suicide prevention begins with recognizing the warning signs and taking steps to make sure it does not happen. Though most people contemplating suicide often believe they are helpless, it is necessary to ask for external assistance, mostly a physician who can help find the medication or therapy that is suitable for the person. It is also important to take away harmful tools from their reach and make sure they are never left alone.

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Community Development, Gender, Health, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, International Day of Rural Women, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, World Food Day / cfhinitiative

WOMEN DEALING WITH POVERTY IN RURAL AREAS

It is true that a concise and universally accepted definition of poverty has proven elusive because it affects many aspects of human condition. However, different criteria have been used to conceptualize the term “poverty”. Most analysts regard poverty as a function of income levels insufficient for securing basic goods and services.

The 2019 Nigerian Living Standards Survey (NLSS) carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlights that 40 percent of the total population, or almost 83 million people, live below the country’s poverty line of 137,430 naira ($381.75) per year. The report also shows that 52.1% of rural dwellers in Nigeria are poor, while only 18.04% of urban dwellers are classified as poor. Also, according to data released by NBS, women ranked the highest when it comes to unemployment. The report shows that unemployment hits 12.2 million females as against 9.5 million men.

The fate of Nigerian women living in rural areas is highly appalling considering the patriarchal nature of the Nigerian society and how women are being marginalized in the labor force. The societal disadvantage and inequality they face because they are women shapes their experience of poverty differently from that of men, it increases their vulnerability, and makes it more challenging for them to climb out of poverty. Indeed, more than half of these rural women live below the nationally defined poverty line, lacking access to basic education, decent nutrition, adequate health and social services. They perform complex multiple roles as mothers, workers and managers of households, taking care of their husbands, children and members of their extended families. They perform the majority of the work in food processing and dominate the rural and urban informal sector activities. Yet an abysmal number of these women own their own farm lands, they have limited access than men to inputs, services, rural organization, agricultural credits, productive infrastructure and technologies to enhance their productivity and incomes.

Women in poor households bear a disproportionate share of the work and responsibility of feeding and caring for family members through unpaid household work. They bear an unequal burden of unpaid, unrecognized, unvalued domestic responsibilities and are overrepresented in informal and risky jobs. Women in poor rural households will often sacrifice their own health and nutrition, or the education of their daughters, by recruiting them to take care of siblings or share in other household tasks.

This lack of investment in the human capital of women propagates a brutal, intergenerational cycle of poverty and hardship that is partly responsible for the persistent nature of poverty. Policies and programs to alleviate poverty must, therefore, take account of gender inequality and gender differences to effectively address the needs and constraints of women. According to the United Nations Women, Women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality, boosting productivity, increasing economic diversification, and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes. This economic empowerment could include paid care work (child care, home care, seniors/disabled/palliative care), non-exclusion from inheritance and property ownership, girl child education and scholarships, adult education and scholarships for mothers, continued education during teenage pregnancy, provision of grants, and many more.

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DISRUPTING PATRIARCHY, Gender, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, Women in Leadership / cfhinitiative

DISRUPTING PATRIARCHY

According to Wikipedia, Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. Some patriarchal societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property and title are inherited by the males only.

Patriarchy influences different areas of the society including culture, family, school, the workplace and relationships. Its presence can translate to inequality and gender-based violence. The idea of patriarchy is not peculiar to a specific group of people, but one that extends and supersedes all borders, socioeconomic class, race, and more.

In Nigeria, it is observed by different researchers including European Scientific Institute that . Hence, there is the commonality of general belief system that the best place for women is in the ‘Kitchen’. This trend has brought about tremendous misrepresentation of women right at the level of the family down to the circular society. Women are therefore discriminated upon from, in most cases, acquiring formal education, accessing proper health care, receiving equal pay, among others.

In so many parts of the world, women are forbidden to own landed properties or inherit any. In cases where the diseased did not have male children, his properties are distributed amongst his male relatives, excluding his widow and daughters who are left to fend for themselves. In these societies, women who are financially stable have to buy properties in the name of their fathers or other male relatives. All these expose women to violence before they are born until they are aged.

Zig Ziglar once said, the first step to finding a solution is to recognize there is a problem. Because of how ingrained patriarchy is in the society, it may be difficult to identify. However, if patriarchy can be learnt, it can be unlearnt. Together we can achieve a society with equal opportunities for all human irrespective of the gender differences.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative to stop the cycle of domestic violence by breaking the silence around gender based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.

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