High unemployment and low levels of education are the situations that most put women at risk of violence in Mozambique, according to a study by Movfemme Projeto 24H de Segurança, consulted by Lusa on Tuesday.
The study was carried out by the non-governmental organization Movimento Feminista Jovem de Moçambique (Movfemme) and is based on a personal survey of 497 young women aged 22 to 35 years from the regions of Romao. and Luis Cabral in the city of Maputo, in the south of the country, and Tratara, in the province of Cabo Delgado, in the northern region.
“The most common form of violence experienced by young women is physical violence, occurring in places with higher unemployment rates and lower levels of education. [Tratara]”, the study shows.
Most respondents reported physical violence, but psychological violence was mentioned as occurring more than once a month, the document said.
“However, being [a violência psicológica] Little known and sometimes unnoticed, its severity is more tolerated in society and can provoke future physical violence with more serious consequences,” the authors warn.
The document notes that most violence against women occurs at home and in the family, especially from husbands (domestic violence).
Alcohol use and women’s refusal to engage in sexual relations with their partners have been identified as contributing factors to gender-based violence, embodied in the social construct of male superiority over women.
Research by Movfemme Projeto 24H de Segurança shows that the concept of violence at the local level is perceived and accepted by young women and community leaders, but areas of the city of Maputo are more familiar with the concept in relation to Bairro Tratara.
In this area of Cabo Delgado, “awareness is low, which may also be due to the low level of education in Tratara,” the study said.
Only 15% of respondents reported acts of gender-based violence of which they had been victims, with the highest reporting rate recorded in Tratara (24%).
Victims contacted the police primarily (84% of cases), followed by community leaders (8%), health care providers (5%), and finally religious leaders (4%).
On the other hand, 50% of community leaders are unaware of legislation on violence against women in Mozambique.
Access to sexual and reproductive health services, which include support and care for victims of domestic violence, exists locally and is used by the majority of young women, although to a lesser extent in the Tratara area compared to others.
According to the study, satisfaction rates in hospitals and pharmacies are low, and options that generate greater satisfaction include seeking help from pastors, healers, mobile clinics, private institutions and public health agents.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.