Keeping the Peace at Home

Domestic abuse is hardly a fully explored and documented phenomenon in Ethiopia. Few researches have indicated that the incidence to be at above 70%. The availability of services to victims of abuse is limited to one shelter and police stations. The legislation is amended to highlight the significance of the danger associated with ¿private¿ matters. Being a victim of a domestic abuse is still considered the shame of the woman. Studies have also indicated that Ethiopian women tend to keep it a secret. This qualitative case study identifies coping strategies of Ethiopian married women who are living in abusive relationship. Fourteen participants were purposely selected and in-depth interviews conducted. The study revealed that the participants have deployed both problem focused coping and emotion focused coping to stop or minimize the abuse without losing the relationship altogether. Types of domestic abuse, severity of abuse, frequency of abuse, belief system and prior coping efficacy were identified as factors affecting the meaning giving process of women to partner violence. Conclusions and implications for social work education, practice, policy and research are discussed.