Women – Page 5 – Centre for Family Health Initiative

MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Gender, Health, WHO, Women, World Breastfeeding Week / cfhinitiative

BREAST FEEDING METHODS

Breastfeeding is the act of feeding an infant with human breast milk. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the antibodies in breast milk can help a baby resist infections. Hence, it is recommended for all infants.

Successful breastfeeding depends on the positioning and attachment of the baby to the breast. A baby needs to be able to take a large mouthful of breast milk and feed effectively without causing any discomfort. Some of the breastfeeding positions that can be adopted include: Laid-back breastfeeding or reclined position, cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, rugby ball hold, side-lying position, upright breastfeeding or koala hold, dangle feeding, nursing in a sling, and double rugby ball hold.

LAID-BACK BREASTFEEDING OR RECLINED POSITION – The laid-back breastfeeding position, also known as biological nurturing, where baby is placed on mother’s chest or tummy as soon as he is born.

CRADLE HOLD – This is the classic position most people picture when the thought of breastfeeding comes to mind. It involves sitting upright with the baby positioned on the side, and the head and neck laying along the mother’s forearm. The baby’s body should be against the mother’s stomach in a tummy-to-mummy position.

CROSS-CRADLE HOLD – This looks similar to the cradle hold but mother’s arms switch roles so the baby’s body lies along the mother’s opposite forearm. The aim is to support the baby around the neck and shoulders to allow him/her to tilt the head prior to latch.

RUGBY BALL HOLD – In this position also known as the underarm or clutch, mother sits with the baby resting along her forearm. The baby’s body tucks alongside the mother’s side with feet towards the back of the chair or whatever the mother is sitting on.

SIDE-LYING POSITION – Ideal for relaxed night feeds and breastfeeding in bed or on the sofa. Mother and baby need to lie on the sides next to one another, belly-to-belly. Side-lying can be more comfortable than sitting if one had a caesarean or stitches.

UPRIGHT BREASTFEEDING OR KOALA HOLD – In this method, baby sits straddling mother’s thigh, or on her hip, with the baby’s spine and head upright as he/she feeds.

DANGLE FEEDING – It involves lying the baby on the back while the mother crouch over the child on all fours and dangle the nipple in the baby’s mouth.

NURSING IN A SLING – This can be done when carrying a baby in a front carrier or any kind of sling. Mothers must make sure she can see the baby’s face and chin are not pressed against the chest.

DOUBLE RUGBY BALL HOLD – The double rugby ball hold also known as the double clutch is a great breastfeeding position for twins, as the mother can feed them in tandem while having her hands relatively free.

DANCER HAND NURSING POSITION – Cup the breast with hand underneath, fingers on one side and thumb on the other, then edge the hand forwards so the thumb and index finger form a ‘U’ shape just in front of the breast. The three remaining fingers should continue to support the breast underneath. Rest the baby’s jaw on the thumb and index finger as he/she feeds with the chin at the bottom of the ‘U’. The mother’s thumb should gently hold one of the cheeks and index finger the other. This hold gives the baby enough support and the mother can easily have control over the position as well as a great view of the latch.

The most important part of successful breastfeeding is the latch. In a case where the child is not properly latched on to the breast, feedings could be painful which could lead to the baby not getting enough breast milk. Signs to confirm a good latch include; the circular movement of the jaw rather than rapid chin movement, wiggling ears, rounded cheeks, absence of clicking or smacking noises, tongue is seen when the bottom lip is pulled down, sound of swallowing, chin is seen touching the breast, when the baby comes off the breast, the nipple is not flattened or misshaped, any form of discomfort disappears as soon as the baby latches on, baby shows signs of satisfaction after breastfeeding.

In order to breastfeed successfully, it is important that the mothers and babies are relaxed and comfortable. Finding the most comfortable method will go a long way in ensuring successful breastfeeding.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Child Trafficking, Gender, Health, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

SPEAK WEDNESDAY – CHILD TRAFFICKING

Child Trafficking is a form of human trafficking and is defined by the United Nations as recruiting, transporting, transferring, and harboring a child for the purpose of slavery, forced labor and exploitation. Child trafficking occurs when children are taken away from safety and exploited. Children who are trafficked are often forced into some form of work, used for sex or simply sold.

Globally, 21 million people are trapped in forced labor or slavery. Of these, one in four are under the age of 18. Every year, 300,000 children are taken from all around the world and sold by human traffickers as slaves according to International Labor Organization (ILO).

Nigeria is not an exception. The alarming number of children being trafficked on a daily basis in Nigeria is worthy of immediate action. The 2015 re-enacted Trafficking in Persons Law Enforcement and Administration Act, and Nigeria 2003 Child Rights Act criminalize child trafficking, yet, this has not seemed to reduce the rate of child trafficking in Nigeria. Children are still being abducted despite measures that are put in place by necessary agencies.

Collective responsibility should be adopted to curb this silent menace globally. Individuals must support the government and necessary agencies to report suspects and suspected locations. At Centre for family Health Initiative, we totally condemn every form of trafficking and gender based violence. Every child deserves the right to grow and strive in a secured environment.

#SayNoToChildTrafficking #NoToChildAbduction #StopChildLabour #CFHISpeakWednesday

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Gender, Health, Teenage Pregnancy, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

TEENAGE PREGNANCY – THE SILENT MENACE

Pregnancy is a biological process indicating the possibility of motherhood. The most common form of conception is through sex whether consensual or not once a female begins to experience ovulation. This means that at any age while still ovulating, a female can be pregnant. Pregnancy at an early age is called teenage or adolescent pregnancy. The threshold for teenage pregnancy is 19 years and below counting from the verified date when the pregnancy ends. A female who conceives at 19 then delivers on her 20^th birthday or after that day is not considered as teenage pregnancy.

According to World Health Organisation, an estimate of 21 million girls aged 15-19 years in developing regions become pregnant and approximately 12 million of them deliver. In developing countries, there are at least 777,000 births from girls younger than 15 years old. Demographic and Health Survey 2013 estimated that 23 percent of Nigerian girls between ages 15-19 have started the process of child bearing. 17 percent out of the 23 have had their first child and 5 percent are pregnant with the first child.

Adolescents get pregnant or are at the risk of conceiving due to certain factors. Some females experience early puberty. As the physical changes begin to occur, the desire to explore these changes become more intense as a result of peer pressure or information, videos and images relating to sex from the media. The girls are overwhelmed by this desire and succumb to engaging in sexual activities without knowledge or access to contraceptives. The repercussion may be pregnancy.

In the African society, some cultures encourage young females to get pregnant out of wedlock and birth the children for the fathers/family. This traditional practice is allowed in situations where the girls’ family wants a male child and sees her as an only option to providing one, the girl is the only child, or the girls’ father died leaving few children. A healthy man from an illustrious family is chosen by the girls’ family to impregnate her. The birth of the child is celebrated as a gift from the God of fertility to expand the family’s lineage.

Some adolescent mothers are victims of non-consensual traumatizing sexual encounters that lead to pregnancy. These girls may be in abusive relationships, molested through coercion, deception, assault, raped, and threats is an unpleasant mode of conception. The law does not consider a minor (below 18) eligible to consent to any form of sexual behavior because it is believed that the minor is deficient in making informed decisions concerning sex. Hence, any act of sex before the age of 18 is considered child molestation.

Poverty is an underlying risk factor of teenage pregnancy. It makes the girls more vulnerable to predators and sexual abusers. Poverty denies the adolescents’ access to basic personal needs such as food, shelter and clothing, and this forces these females to lose their sense of dignity and they are easily enticed by those who provide or promise to provide these basic needs.

Pregnancy at an early age comes with catastrophic consequences for both the mother and the baby. For the mothers, that might be the end to education due to stigma, lack of support from friends and family and to meet their economic needs while pregnant. The girls may never go back to school. A lot of pregnant teenagers and mothers live in poverty because they have no educational qualifications to get jobs and earn a dignified income. For the children who are products of teenage pregnancies, the lack of social support and affection may convert them to juvenile delinquents.

Comprehensive sex education should be taught in schools and even introduced in the curriculum in schools where it is not taught. Male involvement is also crucial in the protective and preventive process of teenage pregnancy. The government should develop public policies that are culturally relevant and will be accepted and practiced by various cultures relating to teenage pregnancy. Education is one of the effective keys to combating teenage pregnancy because it empowers the teenagers and exposes them to more information. Free education should be implemented and support groups should be organized for proper counselling when needed. Preventing teenage pregnancies and supporting pregnant teenagers is the desired target.

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. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST – JUVENILE ARTHRITIS

Health, Hygiene, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

MONDAY HEALTH BURST – JUVENILE ARTHRITIS

Formerly known as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA), Juvenile Arthritis according to the initial word “Juvenile” occurs in children, which of course dispels the myth that only adults or the elderly suffer from arthritis. Juvenile Arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues and it begins in its patients before the age of 16. However, for it to be referred to as chronic arthritis, symptoms must have persisted for more than 6 weeks.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, United States of America, 1 in a 1000 children develops chronic arthritis. In Nigeria according to Olaosebikan et al (2017) in the journal of advanced rheumatology, there is a fair share of JRA cases but due to lack of paediatric rheumatologists, awareness and diagnosis of cases is low. Hence, the urgent need for awareness creation.

The cause of juvenile arthritis is not yet known, but they may likely be due to a combination of genetic factors, environmental exposures and the child’s immune system, as it is the case with most autoimmune diseases. Symptoms may include but not limited to joint pain, rashes, stiffness, swelling, and fever.

Pain: The child may complain of pains at joints, mostly the leg joints.

Stiffness: Noticeable limping of the child in the mornings and after moments of sleeping.

Swelling: The large joints that bear weight like the knee joint and ankle joints are the first site seen to having swellings.

Fever: Spikes in fever especially at night with accompanying rashes at the trunk and palpable lymph nodes.

Complications of Juvenile Arthritis include inflamation of the eyes which can lead to blindness, growth distruptions, and joint damage. It is also important to note that there is a high ratio of females to males being affected.

To diagnose Juvenile Arthritis, there are a series of blood and body fluid tests as well as Imaging tests that can help the child’s doctor get to the disease, identify the type and possible management which can include medications, physical therapy, improving of child’s nutrition and academic involvement.

There is presently no known means of preventing Juvenile Arthritis, however, breastfeeding, avoiding smoking and not abusing antibiotics are known ways of improving the immune system.

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

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Speak Wednesday

COVID-19, Gender, Health, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN

According to UNICEF, violence against women denies women their most basic rights and freedoms, including freedom of opinion, equality and justice before the law, to marry (or not) according to their own free will, to mobility, participation, to have access information and education, to work, to be employed, or to vote. Violence against children on the other hand includes all forms of violence perpetrated against people below the age of 18, either by parents, caregivers, peers, romantic partners, or strangers.

Victims and survivors are mostly the immediate persons affected by violence, but the effects of these violence go far beyond the survivors to having negative impact on their relationships, communities and the societies they live in. In homes where domestic violence is carried out in the presence of the children, it may lead to short or long term harm on children. These children most times end up being abusers, while on the short term, there are physical injuries and serious health conditions.

Exposure to violence at an early age can impair brain development and damage to immune systems, with lifelong consequences. As such, violence against children can negatively affect cognitive development and results in educational and vocational under-achievement. Children exposed to violence and other adversities are more likely to drop out of school, have difficulty finding and keeping a job, involve in harmful use of alcohol and drugs and have disability or mental health problems.

Women who have experienced domestic violence or abuse are at a significantly high risk of experiencing a range of mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse, having suicidal thoughts, unstable relationships, and emotional imbalance. Many women and children have lost their lives as a result of domestic violence.

Teenage girls when faced with sexual violence may lead to unintended pregnancies, induced abortions, gynecological problems, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. According to Pauline Tallen, Nigeria Minister for Women Affairs in a recent address on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), mentioned that over 3000 rape cases have been reported between March and June, 2020. She also acknowledged that rape has always happened in Nigeria, “but with the lockdown of people in homes because of COVID-19, women and children are locked down with their abusers.” Majority of these incidences are carried out by parents, caregivers and those trusted by the victims. Rape is never the fault of the victim, but rather the fault of the rapist.

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. CFHI believes that violence against women and children can be prevented if we all contribute our quota. A life without violence is essential to the health and peace of everyone. We will continue to raise our voices against any form of violence against women and children, provide legal, psycho-social and economic supports to victims and survivors of gender based violence.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Gender, Health, Hygiene, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

MONDAY HEALTH BURST – COMMON ILLNESSES AND COMPLICATIONS IN ADULTS, CHILDREN AND INFANTS

The common illnesses in adults, children, and infants are treated differently depending on how severe they are and how much they affect the immune system. While some are prevented by getting vaccinations, others are treated with antibiotics (specifically diseases caused by bacteria), antiviral medications for those caused by viruses, and antifungals for those caused by fungi. Since these illnesses and complications are treated differently, it is important to always consult a doctor to get the best treatment option.

For today’s Monday Health Burst, we will be looking at the common illnesses among three different age groups (Adults, Children and Infants). For adults, we have Ischemic Heart Disease; Stroke; Lower Respiratory Tract Infection; Trachea, Bronchus and Lungs Cancers; and Diabetes Mellitus. For children and infants, Acute Pharyngotonsilitis (Sore throat); Ear Pain; and Urinary Tract Infections (UTIS).

ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE, OR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

The deadliest disease in the world is coronary artery disease (CAD), also called ischemic heart disease. CAD occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart become narrowed. Untreated CAD can lead to chest pain, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

STROKE

A stroke occurs when an artery in the brain is blocked or leaks. This causes the oxygen-deprived brain cells to begin dying within minutes. If left untreated, a stroke can cause long-term disabilities like Hemiplegia, Hemiparesis, Facial palsy, etc.

LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION

A lower respiratory infection is an infection in the airways and lungs. It can be due to viruses or bacteria. Coughing is the main symptom of a lower respiratory infection. One may also feel breathlessness, wheezing, and a tight feeling in the chest. Untreated lower respiratory infections can lead to respiratory failure or death.

TRACHEA, BRONCHUS, AND LUNG CANCERS

Respiratory cancers include cancers of the trachea, larynx, bronchus, and lungs. The main causes are smoking, secondhand smoke, and environmental toxins. Household pollution such as fuels and mold are also causes of Respiratory cancer.

DIABETES MELLITUS

Diabetes is a group of diseases that affect insulin production and use. In type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas can not produce insulin. The cause is not yet known. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or insulin can not be used effectively. Type 2 Diabetes can be caused by a number of factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and being overweight. Poorly treated or untreated Diabetes can lead to retinopathy, renal failure, stroke, organ damage or death.

ACUTE PHARYNGOTONSILITIS (SORE THROAT)

Sore throats are common in children and can be really painful. It can be caused by virus or bacteria. A sore throat caused by virus does not need antibiotics. In those cases, no specific medicine is required, and the child should get better after it had ran its course.

EAR PAIN

Ear pain is common in children and can have many causes including ear infection (otitis media), swimmer’s ear (infection of the skin in the ear canal), pressure from a cold or sinus infection, teeth pain radiating up the jaw to the ear, and others.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS (UTIS)

UTIs occur when bacteria build up in the urinary tract. UTI can be found in children from infancy through the teen years and into adulthood. Symptoms of a UTI include pain or burning during urination, the need to urinate frequently or urgently, bed wetting. Complications of UTI when left untreated include pyelonephritis which can progress to kidney failure.

Most of these common illnesses are contagious and can spread from person to person, it is hence important to take proper precautions when handling body fluids. Remember the slogan “if it is wet and not yours, do not touch it without a barrier (i.e gloves). Remember to always seek the help of a doctor if any of these symptoms occur, because early diagnosis and treatment is always the best way to survive diseases and complications.

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

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Gender, Health, Politics, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

SPEAK WEDNESDAY – WOMEN TRAFFICKING AND SEX SLAVERY

Human is a universal word used to describe a person irrespective of age, gender, physical attributes, religion, social affiliations, cultural and traditional beliefs, economic capabilities, family background and educational qualifications. This means the universe equates us as one. We are all the same kind but designed to have various peculiarities. The vulnerable and less privileged are not inferior versions of humans so we must not take advantage of them. They are not commodities to be traded for sex slavery, forced labour, rituals or even forced into marriage.

Human trafficking/trading is inhumane and illegal and it is mostly used as a medium for economic exploitation of its victims and it can be done within or outside a particular environment. It involves coercion, intimidation, manipulation, brutality, control, abduction, fraud, isolation from family, threats, and violence in some cases. All these characteristics violate the basic rights of humans as citizens of the earth. Humans are not for sale!

Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking but there are risk factors that increase ones vulnerability of falling prey to human traffickers. Most potential victims of trafficking desire to migrate to places where they will have better lives with better living conditions. Traffickers take advantage of this desire by promising to sponsor the trips, give the vulnerable ones jobs or enroll them in schools. Some parents give out or sell their children to wealthy friends, relatives and even strangers not minding if they are human traffickers or not. This practice has to stop because every child deserves the right to be cared for and protected by their parents or guardian.

Unfortunate circumstances such as kidnap make the victims more vulnerable to human traffickers. Most African countries have porous borders. People are trafficked across borders but many of them have not being identified and saved. Also, corrupt government officials and officers hide and protect the perpetuators of human trafficking thereby encouraging it in the society. Other risk factors are unemployment, riot, poverty, natural disasters and war that can lead to displacement, and political instability.

Boys and men are victims of trafficking. However, majority of individuals who are victims of human trafficking are women and girls. In Africa, our culture devalues women and girls and this makes them more vulnerable to trafficking. Due to stigmatization, some of these girls in trying to escape toxic environments and families, end up meeting the wrong people who will lure them into joining the a team that will later be forced into prostitution and others converted into baby production machines. They are raped brutally and impregnated against their will. Worst of all, they are deprived the privilege of motherhood after birthing their children. The newborns are sold, some killed to be used for rituals. The female suffer from physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse.

Casualties of human trafficking suffer devastating consequences such as psychological trauma, body pains, injury, bruises from physical assault, post-traumatic stress, depression that can lead to suicide, sexual transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancies. Most individuals who were victims of human trafficking and were rescued find it difficult to enjoy a normal life. It may be difficult for them to earn an independent living through an honest means after they are rescued. These victims lose their self-esteem and isolate themselves from people. Some of the trafficked persons die from physical assault or even poorly managed infections, others during child birth. Some victims of trafficking are killed and their body parts extracted to be used for ritual purposes.

Creating awareness in social groups is one of the effective ways to fight human trafficking. Talk about the dangers and effects of human trafficking. Teach them the indicators of human trafficking and tactics used by human traffickers. Social media is also a good medium to advocate, educate and sensitize people to issues of women and girls trafficking in the society. Parents should be discouraged from giving out their children to affluent families for work. The government can work with different Community Based Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations to provide various forms of interventions to victims and survivors of women trafficking and sex slavery. Centre for Family Health Initiative will continue to mentor and sensitize young and vulnerable girls and create opportunities for them to acquire skills that will empower them financially in order to combat the will to migrate illegally.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Gender, Health, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

SEXUAL HEALTH

Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.

Sexual health cannot be defined, understood or made operational without a broad consideration of sexuality, which is a central aspect of being human. It encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.

In promoting sexual health, there are some fundamental human rights attached. They include the rights to equality and non-discrimination, the right to be free from torture, cruelty, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, the right to privacy, the rights to the highest attainable standard of sexual health and social security, the right to marry with free and full consent of the intending spouses, and to equality in and at the dissolution of marriages, the right to decide the number of children to have and when to have them, the rights to information as well as education, the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to an effective remedy for violations of fundamental rights.

Sexual rights protect the rights of everyone to fulfill and express their sexuality with due regard for the rights of others and within a framework of protection against discrimination. Sexual health is a very sensitive and wide aspect of health as it affects the psychological aspect as well as the genital organs.

Gender equality and sexual orientation are very key aspects of sexual health, as there is need for freedom from all forms of discrimination based on gender, need for respect and acceptance of gender differences, need for freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation, and need for freedom to express sexual orientation in safe and responsible manners within a values framework that is respectful of the rights of others. There is also need to foster the practice of consensual, non-exploitative, honest, mutually pleasurable relationships.

If everyone is made to understand and respect the sexual rights of others, issues of rape, pedophilia, female genital mutilation, child marriage, breast ironing, and all manner of evil perpetrated against girls and even children will be mitigated. There will be more people to make responsible decisions regarding sexuality that will help build a better society. Note also that sexual health is all encompassing and it is incomplete not to mention regular check-ups like health screening, breast and testicular self-scans in order to identify sexual problems in time.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Gender, Health, Women / cfhinitiative

CYBER VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Cyber violence is defined as an organised internet behaviours that criminally or non-criminally cause, facilitate, or threaten a person’s physical, sexual, psychological, emotional health. According to a recent research by the World Health Organization, one in ten women globally has already experienced a form of cyber violence since the age of 15.

There is no clear defined typology of offences considered to be cyber violence, cyber violence could be harassment, impersonation, trickery, exclusion, sexting, cyber stalking, and cyber threats that are mostly perpetrated against women and children.

Victims often times experience violence and harassment from families, partners, peers, and from total strangers, which bring about mental stress, depression, distrust, emotional imbalance, low self-esteem, drug use, anxiety, sociopathic tendencies, and suicide in some cases.

In other to combat this problem, it is crucial that we pay attention to people living with us and around us. This is because most people who are victims of cyber violence always believe they are all alone and the world is against them. These thoughts gradually take over the mind of the abused, hence resulting in either short or long term negative effects. Always keep the line of communication open so that people and children especially can open up easily.

For internet users, “always do to others what you want done to you”. It is important to act appropriately online and encourage ethical behaviours while using technology for the good of everyone.

Centre for Family Health Initiative is committed to end any form of violence through advocacy, sensitization and providing legal and psychosocial support to victims and survivors. Together we can encourage everyone to speak up and not stigmatize.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Gender, Health, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

EMOTIONAL VIOLENCE

Have you ever been in a situation where you have suffered emotional neglect and isolation, experienced co-dependency, accusation, blaming, shame, verbal abuse, control, humiliation, bullying, intimidation, manipulation, cyber bullying and abusive criticism? All these devices are palpable signs of emotional violence geared towards hurting and destroying one’s self esteem. The abuser can be anyone: a spouse, business partner, boss, friends, family members, etc.

To exercise power and control over its victim, an emotional abuser propels one to believe that they are indispensable, leaving the victim in perpetual fear. It is important to know that everyone, regardless of race, religion, beliefs, are entitled to respect, independence, self-worth and safety in any relationship.

The emotionally abused sustain injuries that are not necessarily physical but invisible. Only the abused knows he/she is injured and weighs the burden of this injury. What happens next? The abused begins to wallow in self-doubt and concludes that he/she is worthless. The effects of emotional abuse can be short term damages or long lasting scars for those who survive it. The victims may suffer from insomnia, eating disorders, heart palpitations, depression, stomach ulcers, anxiety and even death.

One of the toughest types of violence to detect is emotional abuse because it may not necessarily be physical. Just like other kinds of violence emotional violence can sabotage the mental and psychological health. The abused may begin to feel that all the hurtful comments and abusive criticism used by the abuser are true and blame themselves for the abuse. This may push the abused into the silent killer called depression. We need to live with the consciousness that what we say to people, or how we use words when relating with people can affect them positively or negatively.

To tackle emotional abuse, you must first overcome self-blame. It is not your fault that you are abused. Yes! You will survive irrespective of whether that person is in your life or not. Make yourself a priority! It is important to establish boundaries in your relationship to preserve self-worth and respect. In cases where there is constant breach of boundaries, draw an exit plan, speak to close and trusted persons about it as this may boost the chances of healing internally.

Centre for Family Health Initiative through Child Protection Committee interventions provides psycho-social, economic and legal support to emotionally and physically abused persons who cannot afford justice. Also, Speak Wednesday is a service of CFHI to encourage victims of all forms of abuse to speak up, with the aims of providing justice for everyone, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

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