ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST MARRIED WOMEN ON FAMILY DYNAMICS AND WELL-BEING IN AKOKO NORTHEAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE.

Domestic violence against married women (DVAMW) impacts no-doubt has grievous outcome on many married women in a family setting. Its menace is terribly altering the expected peaceful union, family cohesion and thereby affecting most spouses from performing their necessary roles. Action theory and other literatures were employed to explain DVAMW as an action capable of generating negative responses, based on its definition and interpretation. The study focuses on causes, impacts and prevention of DVAMW in Akoko Northeast Local Government Area, Ondo State. Cross-sectional survey with a multi-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select 120 respondents for the study. A structured questionnaire (QS) was administered to women of reproductive age from the study area who are currently married or ever-married on the above objectives. The data were then analyzed using SPSS. The respondents were of the opinion that every form of DVAMW should be proscribed, with prescribed sanctioning in the family setting be it physical, sexual, economical, emotional, etc. as it impacts can lead to a partner’s injury, death, or child neglect. It is on this premise that the study recommends among others that political, community and religious leaders should put in all efforts towards preventing/reducing DVAMW in the family setting.