Intimate partner violence among pregnant women in Kenya: forms, perpetrators and associations
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, perpet...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
07 June 2022
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| In: |
BMC women's health
Year: 2022, Volume: 22, Pages: 1-25 |
| ISSN: | 1472-6874 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s12905-022-01761-7 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01761-7
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| Author Notes: | Mariella Stiller, Till Bärnighausen and Michael Lowery Wilson |
| Summary: | 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). A weighted sample of respondents who have experienced violence during pregnancy (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 (aOR=0.68; CI=0.53−0.88), having secondary or higher education (aOR=0.53; CI=0.40−0.69) and being 18 years and above at first cohabitation (aOR=0.75; CI=0.60−0.94) and at sexual debut (aOR=0.65; CI=0.53−0.80) were significantly associated with fewer reports of violence during pregnancy. Pregnant women who were divorced, separated or widowed (aOR=1.91; CI=1.47−2.47), who were employed (aOR=1.34; CI=1.06−1.70), who had witnessed their fathers beat their mothers (aOR=1.59; CI=1.28−1.97) and who had primary education (aOR=1.53; 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. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 13.07.2022 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1472-6874 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s12905-022-01761-7 |