ABUSED WIVES : ACCESS TO SERVICES

Abstract

This research is an. attempt to examine if abused wives are getting the services they need. Hence, it takes into consideration, the part contributed by abused wives and service providers as whether abused wives receive help is dependent on 1) whether wives approach for help and if they do, 2) do they receive the help they need. Hence, this research will explore the help-seeking behaviour of abused wives and the perceptions and services rendered by service providers. In particular, to attain this goal, the methodology is split into 3 objectives namely, 1) whether abused wives approach for help (ie. their help-seeking behaviour); 2) whether they reach the help providers as defined by the researcher and 3) whether they receive the services they need (ie. the service providers' response). This is achieved by conducting focused interviews with abused wives, collating the services (and their relative usage by abused wives) used by abused wives and the utilisation of a drafted questionnaire to tap the attitudes, opinions and values of service providers. These data are then examined to see if abused wives get the services they need or in other words, gain access to them; as well as to explore the factors that can facilitate or prevent the wives from getting the services they need. The results of this exploratory research helps to highlight and increase our understanding of abused wives help-seeking behaviour and service providers response. These indicate that there is a lack of access to services and is due to reasons that have sociocultural, sociostructural, family and individual foundations.