Triggers of Intimate Partner Violence (TIPV). The Community’s Perception in Peri-Urban and the Insight from Epmafara District Harare-Zimbabwe

This study sought to examine the triggers of intimate partner violence. There is little work done towards addressing the triggers of intimate partner violence. Thus, a significant gap as the triggers are diversified. It is well known that women’s rights have always been sidelined since the early 1500’s. Thus women are in most cases, victims of intimate partner violence. This study assumed that the main causes of intimate partner violence were social, economic and psychological. A phenomenological approach was adopted with 20 participants to identify a phenomena and focus on the subjective experiences and understanding about the structure of those lived experiences. The researchers used an in-depth interviews and focus groups to understand the triggers of IPV and the experiences of IPV victims. The study found that too much poverty and its related stressors worsen the risk of intimate partner violence. Women were often at the receiving end of this violence stating that alcohol and substance abuse proved to be the major key drivers’ partner violence together with the loss of one’s livelihood activity. Women in different peri-urban communities often got married for financial reasons more than actual love and thus there were high rates of infidelity which also resulted in intimate partner violence. This study further found that victims of intimate partner violence did not want to leave these relationships as they often heavily depended on the perpetrator. Intimate partner violence was also found to be socially acceptable as a social norm in the community, which influence its high rates. This study suggests intervention methods such as psycho-social support, IPV related campaigns and education to educate both males and females about the devastating effects of intimate partner violence. This can be aided to by comprehensive use of media and influential gate keepers in the community to help community members to shun maladaptive behaviours.