Use of Support Services and Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Abused Ghanaian Women with Disabilities

In spite of the high rates of violence against women with disabilities, many factors hinder abused women with disabilities from seeking help either from social support or professional services. The aim of this study was to investigate the help-seeking behaviors of abused women with mobility and visual impairments who have been abused by caregivers and their use of support services in Asokore Mampong District, Ghana. We employed a qualitative exploratory design to elicit the views of participants. Interview protocols were used for the data collection. Interview transcripts were analyzed and presented thematically. Twenty (20) women with either mobility or visual impairments who were originally screened as victims of violence by caregivers were used for the study. Few participants reported seeking help for their abuse. Reluctance in abuse disclosure was attributed to concerns about retribution, keeping family matters private, shame and embarrassment from being subjected to cultural stereotypes (particularly among sexual abuse victims), lacking awareness of accessible services, and mistreatment and bias by informal and formal “support” systems. Focus should be placed on promoting increased awareness among women with disabilities about their rights to exist free from abuse and where to seek support services. Efforts towards challenging and correcting preconceived beliefs of persons with disabilities and women in the society are also merited.