GIRL CHILD EDUCATION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A STUDY OF UMUDURUZOR IMO STATE

This study examined the relationship between girl-child education and domestic violence in Umuduruzor, Imo State, Nigeria. The research was motivated by the persistent challenges facing girls’ access to education, particularly within the context of domestic violence and socio-cultural constraints. The study aimed to identify the various forms of domestic violence prevalent in the community, assess how financial limitations affect girls’ educational aspirations, and examine societal attitudes toward domestic violence and their implications for girls’ education. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from 150 respondents using structured questionnaires and supplemented with interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, particularly frequency distributions and percentages. Findings revealed that domestic violence is widely recognized in the community, with physical violence (51.3%) and psychological abuse (25%) being the most common forms. The study also found that financial constraints constitute a major barrier to girls’ education, as unanimously agreed by all respondents (100%), while 92.6% observed a direct relationship between family income and girls’ educational attainment. Furthermore, the study highlighted a strong stigma associated with reporting domestic violence (94.6%) and a significant lack of support services for survivors (97.3%). Awareness of legal protections against domestic violence was also found to be low among respondents. The study concluded that domestic violence and economic hardship significantly hinder girl-child education in Umuduruzor, reinforcing gender inequality and limiting opportunities for girls. It recommended increased public awareness, improved support systems for survivors, economic empowerment programs for women, and targeted interventions to reduce financial barriers to education. Overall, addressing domestic violence and promoting girl-child education are essential steps toward achieving sustainable development and gender equality in the community.