Abstract: The research aimed to assess the effects of domestic violence on children's cognitive development in Gasabo District, Rwanda. Specifically, this study identified the types of domestic violence that influence children's cognitive development in Gasabo District, Rwanda, and determined the level of children's cognitive development that is due to the domestic violence. children's cognitive development in Gasabo District, Rwanda, analyzed the relationship between domestic violence and children's cognitive development in Gasabo District, Rwanda, and determined preventive measures of domestic violence types on children’s cognitive development in Gasabo District, Rwanda. The sample size was 243, including 159 parents, 90 children's caregivers, and a child psychologist. Primary sources were gathered using questionnaires, interviews, and observation methods to triangulate the data. This study used purposive, stratified, and simple random sampling methods to derive a sample population from the respondents. The study applied both quantitative and qualitative methods complementarily in data collection and analysis. Content analysis helped qualitative data analysis, and quantitative data was presented using the statistical package for social sciences by descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlational and regression analysis). For the first objective, results indicate that 79.2% strongly agreed that physical abuse indicates the types of domestic violence that have an impact on children's cognitive development. 82.6% strongly agreed that domestic violence affects children's cognitive development through emotional abuse and intimidation at home; 79.9% strongly agreed that Verbal Abuse: Coercion, Threats, and Blame demonstrates how domestic abuse can damage children's cognitive development; 77.2% strongly agreed that using male privilege indicates domestic abuse, which can have an influence on the cognitive development of children. 81.9% strongly agreed that domestic violence can include economic abuse, which can have an influence on cognitive development. The second objective found that parents strongly believe that poor communication skills, low reading rates, poor numeracy skills, pro-social behavior skills, and low school completion indicate a child's cognitive development. Children's caregivers also strongly agree that poor communication skills, low reading rates, low numeracy abilities, and low school completion indicate a lack of cognitive growth. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of understanding and addressing cognitive development in children. Results on the correlation between domestic violence and children's cognitive development in Gasabo District, Rwanda, indicated that most measures were positively associated with each other. Since the degree of significance was less than 0.05, in conclusion, the study shows that most commonly, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and intimidation, verbal abuse (coercion, threats, and blame), and using male privilege affect the cognitive development of children. The study found a strong positive association between poor communication skills, low literacy rates, and physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, and coercive abuse, as well as male privilege, and a strong correlation between pro-social behavior skills and abuse. The study concludes that domestic violence negatively impacts children's cognitive development in Rwanda. The study suggests that local leaders, police, school administrators, and affected children should collaborate to help children exposed to domestic violence. Schools should contact parents for therapy, notify local officials and police if necessary, and have a counselor to help children with psychological issues. The research suggests that the next study should be carried out on The Effects of Child Abuse and Exposure to Domestic Violence on Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems and Psychological Complications of the Children Exposed to Domestic Violence.
Keywords: Cognitive development, Domestic violence, Domestic violence, Medium of instruction, Skills Acquisition.
Title: EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN’S COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN RWANDA, A CASE OF GASABO DISTRICT
Author: MARCELLA MUKASANO, Dr. MUGIRANEZA Faustin
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Vol. 11, Issue 4, October 2023 - December 2023
Page No: 200-214
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 01-November-2023
