Prevalence and patterns of gender-based violence across adolescent girls and young women in Mombasa, Kenya

Abstract

Background We sought to estimate the prevalence and describe heterogeneity in experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) across subgroups of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Methods We used data from a cross-sectional bio-behavioural survey among 1299 AGYW aged 14–24 in Mombasa, Kenya in 2015. Respondents were recruited from hotspots associated with sex work, and self-selected into one of three subgroups: young women engaged in casual sex (YCS), young women engaged in transactional sex (YTS), and young women engaged in sex work (YSW). We compared overall and across subgroups: prevalence of lifetime and recent (within previous year) self-reported experience of physical, sexual, and police violence; patterns and perpetrators of first and most recent episode of physical and sexual violence; and factors associated with physical and sexual violence. Results The prevalences of lifetime and recent physical violence were 18.0 and 10.7% respectively. Lifetime and recent sexual violence respectively were reported by 20.5 and 9.8% of respondents. Prevalence of lifetime and recent experience of police violence were 34.7 and 25.8% respectively. All forms of violence were most frequently reported by YSW, followed by YTS and then YCS. 62%/81% of respondents reported having sex during the first episode of physical/sexual violence, and 48%/62% of those sex acts at first episode of physical/sexual violence were condomless. In the most recent episode of violence when sex took place levels of condom use remained low at 53–61%. The main perpetrators of violence were intimate partners for YCS, and both intimate partners and regular non-client partners for YTS. For YSW, first-time and regular paying clients were the main perpetrators of physical and sexual violence. Alcohol use, ever being pregnant and regular source of income were associated with physical and sexual violence though it differed by subgroup and type of violence. Conclusions AGYW in these settings experience high vulnerability to physical, sexual and police violence. However, AGYW are not a homogeneous group, and there are heterogeneities in prevalence and predictors of violence between subgroups of AGYW that need to be understood to design effective programmes to address violence.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Gender Based Violence Among Baso High School Female Students, 2020.

“…Another study conducted in Menkorer High school, North west Ethiopia indicated that Respondents with current educational status of good and above were less likely to be a victim of gender based violence by nine Percent when compared with students who have poor educational status (5). Another study conducted in Mombasa, Kenya showed that literacy decreased gender based violence's (19).…”

Deconstruction as a Functional Tool in Decolonizing Nigerian Educational System: A Biblical Response.

“…Domestic violence is a vicious, silent epidemic that is ravaging society at an increasingly alarming rate if the recent statistics regarding the vice are anything to go by. About 30 percent of women across the world have witnessed or experienced domestic violence in terms of physical or sexual intimate partner violence, while 7 percent have experienced non-partner violence (Bhattacharjee et al, 2020). More specifically, the rates of domestic violence in Sub-Saharan Africa are regarded as one of the highest in the world (Otolo, 2020).…”

“…In such societies, women are encouraged to consider, tolerate, and rationalise domestic violence as an integral component of their culture. This is supported by cultural beliefs that are deeply entrenched and women who go against them risk facing embarrassment and guilt (Bhattacharjee et al, 2020). It has therefore become increasingly difficult for data regarding the prevalence of domestic violence to be collected in Kenya, largely because the vice is still accepted as a cultural practice or considered a private affair that should not be reported to the authorities (Otolo, 2020).…”

“…This is evident in households where one of the spouses is heavily dependent on drugs or substances and is, therefore, unable to perform their roles and responsibilities fully. The ensuing conflict based on the negligence of roles and responsibility may result in the affected person either being victimised or being the abuser in the quest for power and control in their family (Bhattacharjee et al, 2020).…”

“…In households where men are jobless or unless as compared to their spouses, the dimensions of power and control may favour the woman, leading to conflict that manifests in terms of domestic violence. This is likely particularly in cases where the man will still seek to demonstrate their power and control over the affairs of their households, attempts that are highly likely to be rebuffed by their spouse due to their economic clout (Bhattacharjee et al, 2020).…”