The early phase of marriage experiences (1 to 5 years) as the wife of drug addicts: An exploration study

Pengalaman fasa awal perkahwinan (1 hingga 5 tahun) sebagai isteri penagih dadah : Satu kajian penerokaan

Abstract

The article discusses the experience faced by the wives when their husbands are involved in drug abuse. This case study focuses on the impact of drug abusers in their early phase of marriage (from 1 to 5 years of marriage) which is still lack of  emphasized. The objective of the study was to explore the experiences of women who lived in at-risk households after being married to drug addicts. The case study used a qualitative method. A total of ten women were selected as informants using snowball sampling. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interviews. All informants were divorced before they reached five years of marriage. The experiences in their early phase of marriage have shown that all informants were: i) often beaten by their husbands; ii) worried about their personal safety due to their husbands’ behaviors who are also involved in other crimes; iii) facing dual-burden as their husbands did not provide any basic needs in the households; and iv) feeling uncomfortable during sexual intercourse due to their husbands forced and rough behavior. Although marriage can be a protective factor in avoiding social problems, however the drug abuse issues at an early phase of marriage, especially within 1 to 5 years, can cause risks and conflicts in the households. The study implies the importance of specific interventions for women, whose husbands are drug-addicts, to remain alert and be aware of the risks of domestic abuse. It is also important for these young mothers to have exposure on the roles of existing social support agencies and experts who can be consulted when dealing with drug abuse.

Artikel ini membincangkan pengalaman isteri apabila suami terlibat menyalahguna dadah. Kajian kes ini menumpu kepada impak penyalahgunaan dadah dalam fasa awal perkahwinan (tempoh 1 hingga 5 tahun berkahwin) yang masih kurang diberi perhatian. Objektif kajian adalah untuk meneroka pengalaman wanita yang pernah melalui kehidupan rumahtangga berisiko apabila berkahwin dengan seorang penagih dadah. Kajian kes ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif. Seramai sepuluh orang wanita telah dipilih sebagai informan menggunakan persampelan snow ball. Pengumpulan data dijalankan secara temu bual bersemuka. Kesemua informan telah bercerai sebelum perkahwinan mencapai tempoh lima tahun. Pengalaman dalam fasa awal menunjukkan kesemua informan i) sering dipukul suami, ii) merasa bimbang dengan keselamatan diri akibat suami juga terlibat jenayah lain, iii) bebanan dwiperanan isteri apabila suami tidak menyediakan nafkah dan iv) rasa tidak selesa apabila suami kerap memaksa melakukan hubungan intim secara kasar. Walaupun perkahwinan boleh menjadi faktor pelindung daripada masalah sosial, namun risiko rumahtangga berkonflik dan tidak stabil menjadi tinggi bagi perkahwinan fasa 1 hingga 5 tahun akibat penyalahgunaan dadah. Kajian ini memberi implikasi pentingnya intervensi khusus bagi wanita yang mempunyai suami terjebak dadah agar sentiasa peka dengan risiko penderaan domestik. Amat penting untuk ibu muda ini diberi pendedahan peranan agensi sokong bantu dan pakar yang boleh dirujuk apabila berhadapan dengan penyalahgunaan dadah.

Kata kunci: pengalaman isteri, fasa awal perkahwinan, suami penagih dadah, risiko rumahtangga, penyalahgunaan dadah