FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AMONGWOMEN 15-49 YEARS AT WOMAN’S HOPE CENTER, NAIROBI COUNTY,KENYA.

Abstract

Harmful actions engaged to an individual based on gender is stated as Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a form of GBV. IPV is harm caused by a present or past partner physically, sexually or emotionally, and can occur among opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples. Among women, IPV is the most common violence. This paper aimed to investigate factors contributing to intimate partner violence among women aged 15-49 years at the Woman’s Hope Centre and determine factors associated to IPV. This was a cross-sectional study, using Census method of sampling at Woman’s Hope Center because this is the largest private shelter home in Nairobi with a high turnover rate of IPV cases. Data analysis was majorly descriptive showing proportions. A Chi-square test was used to check for the association of categorical variables with Intimate Partner Violence. Results indicated that majority of women had undergone physical violence compared to emotional and sexual violence respectively. The only factor found to be significantly associated to IPV was Woman’s marital status (chi square p-value 0.000). The study concluded that IPV is a public heath concern in Nairobi County and most effective strategies in eliminating IPV against women should be focused on the individual level, community level and laws and institutions dealing with such violence. The study therefore recommends the Government of Kenya to come up with an awareness campaign domestic violence to be run in all 47 counties; Awareness will help reduce ignorance in the society and stress on the dangers of IPV to the victims. To add on media campaigns are run in all media outlets regularly and finally gender based violence issues to be included in both primary and secondary school curricula so that children are aware of GBV at a young age.