The Dynamics of help Seeking Strategies used by Battered Women in Spousal Relationships in Nakuru West Sub-County of Kenya

Abstract

The study examines the dynamics of help seeking strategies among battered women in spousal relationships in Nakuru West Sub County, Kenya. This research was motivated by the verity that even though wife battering has for long been recognized as not only a health hazard but also a grave violation of human rights, it continues to be prevalent in many families. Two theories; Battered Women Syndrome Theory and Survivor Theory guided the study. Snowball and purposive sampling methods were used to identify the sample size required. A qualitative research methodology employing an Interview Schedule, Focus Group Discussions and Key Informants Guides was employed as the tools of data collection and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found that (80.0%) of the battered women do not always seek help. This study recommends social solutions to wife battering because findings conclude that it is a social problem. The study also recommends that policies to curb battering be more stringent in order to deal with the menace thereby empowering women who are key pillars to family welfare and by extension stable society. Keywords: help seeking strategies, battered women, spousal relationship