Citation

Afr. Women Health 1995; 3(1): 16-18.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Safe Motherhood Initiative Project in Uganda)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12295891

Abstract

Assault within marriage, whether or not it is recognized as a crime, is a problem, which is beginning to surface. The extent of the problem is still unknown because women are often reluctant and discouraged by the authorities to press charges against their husbands. Sexual coercion and violence in a marriage is likely to occur more than once with increasing frequency and intensity. A victim of wife abuse should know that compliance to sexual coercion does not decrease the degree of violence or the possibility that it will recur. It only makes it more difficult for the woman to get out of the situation. Women who have experienced wife abuse for a long time tend to develop a ¿victim mentality¿ and have low self-esteem. Since they feel very isolated and unworthy of potential, the quality and extent of the support given to them during this period is very important. The best long-term strategy for dealing with sexual assault in an on-going relationship is to immediately acknowledge that sexual abuse has occurred.

Language: en