Intimate partner violence among pregnant women in Kenya: forms, perpetrators and associations

Abstract

Background Intimate Partner violence (IPV) among pregnant women is a significant problem of public health importance. Nevertheless, there are relatively few studies which have examined the phenomenon in sub-Saharan settings. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the prevalence, perpetrators, and associated factors of IPV during pregnancy in Kenya. Methods We were making use of the 2014 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) data and included women and girls of reproductive age (15–49 years) who have ever been pregnant ($$n=4331$$ n = 4331 ). A weighted sample of respondents who have experienced violence during pregnancy ($$n=397$$ n = 397 ) were selected for further bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses in order to examine the association between IPV and socio-demographic factors. Results The prevalence of violence among pregnant women in Kenya was 9.2%, perpetrated mostly by the current husband or partner (47.6%), followed by the former husband or partner (31.5%). Physical violence was the most common (78.6%), followed by emotional (67.8%) and sexual (34.8%). Having one or two children ($$\hbox {aOR} =0.68$$ aOR = 0.68 ; $$\hbox {CI} = 0.53{-}0.88$$ CI = 0.53 - 0.88 ), having secondary or higher education ($$\hbox {aOR} = 0.53$$ aOR = 0.53 ; $$\hbox {CI} = 0.40{-}0.69$$ CI = 0.40 - 0.69 ) and being 18 years and above at first cohabitation ($$\hbox {aOR} = 0.75$$ aOR = 0.75 ; $$\hbox {CI}= 0.60{-}0.94$$ CI = 0.60 - 0.94 ) and at sexual debut ($$\hbox {aOR} = 0.65$$ aOR = 0.65 ; $$\hbox {CI}=0.53{-}0.80$$ CI = 0.53 - 0.80 ) were significantly associated with fewer reports of violence during pregnancy. Pregnant women who were divorced, separated or widowed ($$\hbox {aOR} = 1.91$$ aOR = 1.91 ; $$\hbox {CI} =1.47{-}2.47$$ CI = 1.47 - 2.47 ), who were employed ($$\hbox {aOR} = 1.34$$ aOR = 1.34 ; $$\hbox {CI} =1.06{-}1.70$$ CI = 1.06 - 1.70 ), who had witnessed their fathers beat their mothers ($$\hbox {aOR} = 1.59$$ aOR = 1.59 ; $$\hbox {CI} = 1.28{-}1.97$$ CI = 1.28 - 1.97 ) and who had primary education ($$\hbox {aOR} = 1.53$$ aOR = 1.53 ; $$\hbox {CI} = 1.11{-}2.14$$ CI = 1.11 - 2.14 ) were significantly more likely to experience violence. Conclusions To prevent violence among pregnant women in Kenya, training health care providers should go hand in hand with interventions sensitising and mobilising community members, both addressing the socio-demographic drivers of IPV during pregnancy and directing a particular attention to the most vulnerable ones.

“He stepped on my belly” An exploration of Intimate Partner Violence Experience and Coping Strategies among Pregnant Women in Southwestern-Uganda

“…Current findings reveal that women experienced various types of IPV including psychological, physical, sexual and economic violence. This is comparable to previous studies that reported psychological violence physical, sexual (5, 13, 19) and economic violence (6, 14) . A number of women expressed their concern on economic violence where they claimed that spouses had money but ignored their financial needs that included paying money for rent, school fees for the children, buying food for the family.…”

The impact of domestic violence: a prospective forensic study in the northeastern region of Algeria (Annaba)

“…A meta-analysis found that children's simple exposure to spousal violence is strongly linked to poor emotional and behavioral outcomes in children (Hughes 1988). According to results from an African study, physical violence was the most common (78.6%), followed by psychological (67.8%) and sexual (34.8%) violence (Stiller et al 2022).…”

Sexual violence and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Rwanda: a nationwide cross-sectional survey

“…In East African countries like Kenya and Uganda, lifetime sexual violence stands at 20.5% and 24.3% respectively [24,25]. In those countries, the prevalence of sexual violence has been demonstrated to also be high among pregnant women at 34.8% and 36.1% respectively [19,26].…”

“…Sexual violence towards women is a major violation of human rights and a global public health challenge with mental and physical effects on the well-being of women and their children [17][18][19]. The World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that 27% of women aged 15-49 years experience either sexual or physical violence in their lifetime [2].…”

“…Some of the factors include individual factors like age and education level, demographic characteristics like living in rural areas, social and contextual factors like secretive culture, inadequate religious beliefs and gender inequalities, and nally, need factors like relying on husbands for basic survival [27][28][29][30][31]. Additional factors such as witnessing family sexual violence during childhood, drug abuse, di culties in effective communication among couples, marital discord, male controlling behaviour and community norms were found to be associated with sexual violence [19,32]. Current pregnancy status has also previously been identi ed as one of the associated factors of sexual violence [33].…”