Sexual violence and motherhood among women with disabilities in Ambo Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

It is well recognized that women with disabilities face several challenges in their life sexual violence is one of the problems that adversely affect their life. Thus, this article focuses on exploring sexual violence experienced by women with physical disabilities and their struggle as a single mother. After purposively sampling participants, the article employed a qualitative approach of phenomenology type with an indepth interview. The result of the study revealed that women with physical disabilities accepted societal views which deny their ability of motherhood and building a relationship. Nevertheless, they have become mothers as the result of non-consensual sexual encounters. The study uncovers the need for awareness raisings, policy design, and an intervention for supporting women with disabilities in the study area. Results highlight that more work is needed to understand the complex issues that single mothers with disabilities face. ‘I do have four children from three different men, but neither of them lives with me nor helps their child’.

Points of interest

• Women with disabilities can build loving relationships and become mothers but often encounter social barriers which limit their lives.

• Single mothers with physical disabilities who have experienced sexual violation discuss the extreme challenges they face in their lives.

• It is argued that it is critical to take steps to raise awareness and design policy that ensures the rights of women with disability to motherhood are respected in Ethiopia and the quality of their lives improved.

Keywords:

• Women with disabilities
• sexual violence
• single mother
• motherhood

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank women with disabilities who participated in this research for their generous time and patience during the interview.

Disclosure statement

The author reported no potential conflict of interest.