Perception of Women on Gender-Based Violence in Guinea: A Qualitative Study

Background: Gender-based violence exists and is increasing worldwide, with higher rates in African regions where gender inequality persists. It affects adolescent girls and adult women. In Guinea, violence against women is a widespread phenomenon. Indeed, 9 out of 10 women aged from 15 to 64 have been victim of at least one act of violence. The objective of this study is to explore the perceptions of women in the community about the violence that they have undergone. Methods: It is a qualitative study using focus group discussions (FGD) with women aged 15-49 in three health districts. Results: Of the 18 FGD conducted, young women aged 20 to 24 were the most represented (33%). The main types of Gender-based violence include physical violence, sexual violence (rape) and verbal violence. These types of violence are committed by husbands and boyfriends as well as parents of young girls in a context of forced marriage. The consequences of this violence are injuries, unwanted pregnancies, induced abortions, woman humiliation, depression, divorce and abandonment of the children by the husbands. Women’s attitudes to this violence are essentially to remain silent for fear to be stigmatized, health care seeking and filing complaints to the gendarmerie/police or to the leaders of district and notables. Conclusion: GBV is recurrent in Guinea in all its forms. The perpetrators are intimate partners, family members and unknown aggressors. This phenomenon requires sustained attention of the authorities and a commitment of all the stakeholders in order to highlight the problem and make advocation for women so that these acts of violence can be reduced.