Domestic violence and social services in Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Nigeria: Comparative study

¹ European Social Work with Children and Youth, School of Sociology and Public Policy, Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal
² Department of Welfare and Social Work, Riga Stradiņš University, Latvia
³ Department of Social Work, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia
⁴ Institute of Educational Science and Social Work, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania
⁵ Department of Science Education, Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria

^* Corresponding author: jegedeoluwaseun535@gmail.com

Abstract

Objectives: with regard to neglect, deprivation, false allegations, exposure to traumatic experiences, and other factors, it is reasonable to claim that domestic violence is a major contributor to child abuse in families. Domestic violence also affects the national economy and the probability of poverty. The legal definition of violence and cultural traditions play a significant role in how it is perceived. This study focuses on exploring domestic violence and social services to respond to domestic violence in families with children and examines multidisciplinary approach to domestic violence in families across Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Nigeria. Materials and Methods: based on purposive sampling, 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with professionals from Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Nigeria who work with families and individuals who have experienced domestic violence. The data were analysed using ATLAS.ti 5.0 to generate themes and finalised by employing qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) with the software fsQCA 4.0. Results: data showed that several conditions impacted the effective intervention and prevention of domestic violence. Four of these conditions were identified as sufficient causal pathways for domestic violence: tradition for tolerance of violence, lack of or fuzzy national definition of domestic violence, cultural traditions, level of support for women’s empowerment, government policies addressing family violence, and multidisciplinary efforts of social intervention professionals. Conclusions. The observed level of violence tolerance provides some explanation for the low rate of self-reported domestic violence and rationale for a greater emphasis on human rights and dignity awareness. The multidisciplinary efforts of social intervention are evident in the services provided in Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Nigeria; there are professional referrals to little multidisciplinary collaboration in Nigeria. The example of Nigeria demonstrates that regulations exist to prevent domestic violence, but cultural traditions make it difficult for women to disclose abuse, resulting in many women suffering in silence.