The prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence in Kenya: A cross-sectional study incorporating community contextual factors
Description
Violence against women is prevalent around the world, and takes place most often in intimate relationships. Given the link between physical and sexual violence and the risk of HIV infection, the issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) is of concern particularly in Africa where the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is high. Yet, few studies have examined the prevalence of IPV in Africa using population-based survey data. Drawing on the 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey data, this study attempted to identify factors associated with (1) women's experience of IPV in the last 12 months by type of violence and (2) their zero-tolerance of wife beating, among 4091 ever-married women aged 15-49. Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with each of the outcome. The risk of IPV was consistently high, across all three types of violence, among women of Luhya or Luo ethnic background, among women with four or more sons and daughters living at home, and among women, whose partners misused substance frequently. Residing in areas with a high concentration of men who agreed that a husband had the right to express anger if she refused to have sex with him had a significant and positive association with women's risk of physical violence in the last 12 months. On the other hand, having attained secondary or higher education protected women from the experience of both emotional and physical IPV. Women's zero-tolerance of wife beating saw positive associations with their achievement of secondary or higher education and with engaging in paid work in the last 12 months. Violence prevention programs may be more effective by empowering women through promoting higher education, collaborating with substance abuse prevention programs, and discouraging norms that justify husbands' right to express anger to control women