ACTS OF VIOLENCE EXPERIENCED BY SURVIVORS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN KENYA: GENDERED DIFFERENCES

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global human rights violation and a significant public health issue. This study aimed to find out the gender differences in experienced acts of IPV among survivors in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design with a mixed-methods approach and used purposive sampling to select the hospital. The sample size was 147 respondents drawn from a population of 266 survivors of IPV seeking services at the GVRC. Questionnaires and a focus group discussion schedule were used to collect data which was then analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS v. 25.0). The acts of IPV experienced by survivors included slapping, pushing, choking, or punching (90.6%), coercion to have sex (56.41%), threatened with a weapon(88.89%), the likelihood of physical hurt(88.9%) and yelling or being screamed at (97.44%). Further analysis indicated that there was a significant association between gender of respondent and acts of violence, slapping, pushing, chocking or punching (X2=2.10, p=0.043), coercion to have sex (X2=1.058, p=0.03), the likelihood of physical hurt (X2=1.01, p=0.019). The study recommends the need for recognition, design, and implementation of appropriate intervention programs for all survivors regardless of gender.