EFFECTS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: EVIDENCES FROM PORT HARCOURT MUNICIPALITY, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

One of the hall marks of sustainable development is ensuring equality and inclusivity including the elimination of gender-based violence in space. Although domestic violence against women has become entrenched and pervasive among world nations, its rate of occurrence in Port Harcourt is becoming disheartening and alarming with attendant implications on the overall growth of the area. The need to unravel the effects and factors of domestic violence against women informed the aim of the present study. The study adopted the mixed-method research approach with a cross-sectional survey research design. Data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. the sample size were 399 respondents and fifteen (15) key informants from The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and selected professionals in the Built Environment. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and results presented in charts and tables. Findings revealed the effects of domestic violence against women in the study to include depression, (49.1%), high mortality or death, (23.0%); panic attacks (2.3%); suicide, (2.1%); substance abuse (8.4%); phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder (8.4%); and anxiety and sleep disorder (6.8%). Some of the factors implicated for domestic violence against women are cultural, economic, religions, environmental and social in nature. There is need for increased public awareness on the dangers of domestic violence against women. Enforcement of laws and policies criminalising domestic violence, protect victims, support vulnerable victims and hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable and supporting economic empowerment initiatives for women's economic independence, can help them become less vulnerable to domestic violence.