Intimate Partner Violence Impacts University Students in Ghana

Abstract

Intimate partner violence cuts across cultures and types of relationships. While the phenomenon has received considerable academic attention in many contexts, few scholarly works exist in Ghana. This research project was limited to tertiary level students at Ghana’s premier university. The study, using open-ended qualitative questions, examined the phenomenon from a multidimensional perspective as it affects both male and female in dating relationships. Additionally, the study attempts to fill a gap in the literature by examining abuse in relationships between largely unmarried intimate partners in a university. It also pushes beyond the academic realm and offers a guide for practice, by establishing a public relations campaign targeted to the university students. Researchers investigated the scope and types of intimate partner violence among students in dating relationships, students described experiencing physical and emotional abuse, citing reasons for continuing non-healthy relationships. This study seeks to understand why university-educated victims remain in abusive relationships.