NCJ Number
221389
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 22 Issue: 6 Dated: 2007 Pages: 773-784
Date Published
2007
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined social inequalities associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) among 3,969 women of reproductive age in Kenya, using data from the Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 2003.
Abstract
The study found that although a high level of education reduced a woman's risk for IPV, both being employed and having a higher education/occupational status than her partner increased a woman's vulnerability to IPV. Age differences between the partners, illiteracy, and lack of autonomy and access to information increased the risk for women to experience IPV. Being in polygamous relationships was also linked to risk for IPV. The findings suggest that interventions to prevent and reduce IPV in Kenya should primarily target women who are illiterate and with low education, possibly through mass-media campaigns against IPV. Such campaigns can only be successful, however, when accompanied by structural changes that improve literacy and education levels in society as a whole. All women 15-49 years old who were residents/visitors at the sample household at the time of the DHS survey were eligible for participation in this study. The domestic-violence module, however, was only administered to one woman in the household, randomly chosen. For this study, only women currently married or having an intimate partner (n=3,969) were included. The survey obtained data on women and their partners' backgrounds, reproductive histories, use of family-planning methods, fertility preferences, antenatal and delivery care, child care and nutrition, child mortality, adult mortality, awareness of and precaution against sexually transmitted diseases, marriage and sexual behavior, empowerment and social indicators, and domestic violence. Of primary interest for this study were the domestic-violence module and social and empowerment variables. 3 tables and 37 references