Academic literature on the topic 'Abused women – Kenya'

In July 2012, a landmark hearing before the High Court in London found that the British government had a case to answer concerning human rights abuses, including torture and rapes, allegedly perpetrated by British colonialists in Kenya, during the Mau Mau counterinsurgency of the 1950s. Among the four elderly Kenyan claimants in court that day was a Kikuyu woman, Jane Mara, whose testimony related the sexual abuses she had suffered. Jane had been only 15 years of age, in 1954, when she was accused of being a Mau Mau sympathizer, and along with other villagers, she was taken for interrogation. The experience Jane Mara recounted was horrific. Beaten repeatedly by her inquisitors, she was then pinned to the floor by four African guards who held her thighs apart, while another guard forced a glass bottle into her vagina, using the sole of his boot to direct the bottle deeply into her. The pain was excruciating, and Jane realized that the bottle had been heated. When this ordeal came to an end, she was compelled to sit and watch as the three other young women were subjected to the same torture.

Abstract Disrespect and abuse during childbirth are violations of women’s human rights and an indicator of poor-quality care. Disrespect and abuse during childbirth are widespread, yet data on providers’ perspectives on the topic are limited. We examined providers’ perspectives on the frequency and drivers of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth in a rural county in Kenya. We used data from a mixed-methods study in a rural county in Western Kenya with 49 maternity providers (32 clinical and 17 non-clinical) in 2016. Providers were asked structured questions on disrespect and abuse, followed by open-ended questions on why certain behaviours were exhibited (or not). Most providers reported that women were often treated with dignity and respect. However, 53% of providers reported ever observing other providers verbally abuse women and 45% reported doing so themselves. Observation of physical abuse was reported by 37% of providers while 35% reported doing so themselves. Drivers of disrespect and abuse included perceptions of women being difficult, stress and burnout, facility culture and lack of accountability, poor facility infrastructure and lack of medicines and supplies, and provider attitudes. Provider bias, training and women’s empowerment influenced how different women were treated. We conclude that disrespect and abuse are driven by difficult situations in a health system coupled with a facilitating sociocultural environment. Providers resorted to disrespect and abuse as a means of gaining compliance when they were stressed and feeling helpless. Interventions to address disrespect and abuse need to tackle the multiplicity of contributing factors. These should include empowering providers to deal with difficult situations, develop positive coping mechanisms for stress and address their biases. We also need to change the culture in facilities and strengthen the health systems to address the system-level stressors.

The misalignment between economic strengthening opportunities and women’s agency is especially salient given the connection between women’s economic empowerment and household well-being. Using Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2014 data, we examine married women’s agency in household economic decision making. Women who are less likely to characterize abusive patterns of behavior as problematic and women reporting emotional abuse are less likely to report economic autonomy in the household. Furthermore, data indicate little congruence in perceptions of wife’s household economic autonomy between couples. These findings point to the need to understand the interplay among structural factors, gender, marital status, and the financial well-being of married persons.

Violence against children, including corporal punishment, remains a global concern. Understanding sources of support for corporal punishment within cultures, and the potential for intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment, is essential for policy-development and community engagement to protect children. In this study, we use data from a cross-section of women in Meru County, Kenya ( n = 1,974) to profile attitudes toward violence against children using the Velicer Attitudes Towards Violence–Child subscale. We find reported histories of sexual abuse, emotional and physical neglect, and witnessing interpersonal violence during childhood predict more violent attitudes toward children in adulthood. The pathway between these forms of child maltreatment and violent attitudes is significantly mediated by family function, perceived stress, and attitudes toward violence against women. Interventions to prevent sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and promote attachments between parents and children may benefit future generations in this population. Furthermore, secondary prevention of the effects of these childhood adversities may require development of social support, improving family function and challenging violent attitudes against women.

Female offenders are distinctly different from male offenders, and present with their own gender-specific needs and issues both in and out of the correctional setting. Most approaches to Coping Mechanisms for female offenders are currently based on research involving males and approaches designed for males. Inquiry regarding the gender-specific needs of female inmates as they pertain to treatment, reentry programs, and Coping Mechanisms is necessary so professionals can better understand how to serve this population. This study investigated the Coping Mechanisms Adopted by Women ex-offenders in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study specifically investigated the effects of not addressing the challenges identified for women returning from prison in Nyeri County especially challenges connected to housing, employment, relationships, drug, and substance abuse as well as mental health after incarceration. This was a qualitative study adopting a phenomenological design. The site and respondents were purposively selected with snowballing being used to select the respondents to the point of saturation. This study made use of 41 women ex-convicts, 3 FGDs, and 9 key informants. Data were collected by the use of semi-structured interview schedules. Results indicated that currently, prison is negatively viewed by the community; this is primarily because of the isolation of prisoners and whatever happens behind the bars. The government should involve other sectors such as the churches, the media, schools, and Non- Governmental Organizations in educating the masses in order to ease the re-entry of ex-convicts

AbstractIn this response to Professor Maluleke, Kenyan theologian Philomena N. Mwaura speaks about the importance of taking cognizance of women and women's theologizing in the construction of an authentic African theology. While not denying the power of the cross, Professor Mwaura notes the danger of a theology that overlooks women's oppression and marginalization and recommends accepting "their deprivation, suffering and abuse as Christ did ."

The comparative rate of women entering the formal correctional system and serving custodial sentences, both in prison and prison remand awaiting trial, is on the increase. This is accompanied by a similarly increasing number of women eventually exiting prisons annually. This study investigated the challenges influencing reentry of women ex-offenders in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study specifically investigated the effects of not addressing the challenges identified for women returning from prison in Nyeri County especially challenges connected to housing, employment, relationships, drug, and substance abuse as well as mental health after incarceration. This was a qualitative study adopting a phenomenological design. The site and respondents were purposively selected with snowballing being used to select the respondents to the point of saturation. This study made use of 41 women ex-convicts, 3 FGDs, and 9 key informants. Data were collected by use of semi-structured interview schedules. Results indicated that ex-offenders face various challenges upon release from prison. The effects of these challenges when not addressed the impact the individual self, their family, the community, and predisposed the ex-convicts to a high propensity for recidivism. Based on the findings it is suggested that the use of community corrections, adjusting prison training to market needs, and the use of victim-offender mediation can be better alternatives to incarceration.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with deleterious effects on mental health in pregnancy. Methods: The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used to measure neglect, abuse, and household dysfunction. Longitudinal mixed effect modelling was used to test the effect of ACEs on pregnancy-related anxiety, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress at two time points (12–19 and 22–29 weeks) during pregnancy. Results: A total of 215 women who were predominantly married (81%) and had attained tertiary education (96%) were enrolled. Total ACEs were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.23, p < 0.05) and perceived stress (r = 0.18, p < 0.05). As depressive symptoms decreased, t (167) = −8.44, p < 0.001, perceived stress increased, t (167) = 4.60, p < 0.001, and pregnancy-related anxiety remained unchanged as pregnancy progressed. Contact sexual abuse (p < 0.01) and parental death or divorce (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with depression over time (p < 0.01). Total ACEs in this study were associated with depressive symptoms early but not late in pregnancy. Conclusions: Higher total ACEs were positively associated with depressive symptoms and perceived stress during pregnancy, suggesting that mental disorders may have an impact on pregnancy outcomes and ought to be addressed. Further validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) tool in local settings is required.

The effect of popular music on the behavior and emotions of youth is of significant concern to policy makers in government and the general public. Lyrics have become more explicit in their references to drugs, sex, and violence over the years. Notably, rap music is characterized by sexually explicit language in its lyrics as well as messages of violence, racism, drugs, homophobia, and hatred toward women. These depictions of violence and deviance are likely to have negative influence on the behavior and moral values of the youth who listen to such music with far reaching impact of risky behavior in future. Therefore, this study was interested in uncovering the type of the popular music that Kenyan youth listen to; the type of violent and deviant information contained in such popular music and the subsequent effect of these violent and deviant messages on their attitude and behavior. The study targeted male and female undergraduate students from the University of Nairobi. A sample of 200 undergraduate students (100 male and 100 female) was drawn using multistage sampling procedures and systematic random sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire with both structured and open-ended questions.Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics where frequency, percentages and measures of central tendency were used. Inferential statistics (chi-test) were used to test the effect of popular music on attitude and behavior of youth in Kenya.The study confirmed gender difference in the attitude towards popular music among the youth with female students having negative attitude while their male counterparts had a more favorable attitude towards popular music. It was also established that increasing exposure to popular music had detrimental effects including; increased vulnerability to drug and substance abuse, violence, crime, illicit sexual behavior, disease burden and loss of moral values. The study concludes that popular music was likely to have profound immediate and long term negative effects to the attitude and behavior of youth in Kenya. Their lyrical content was found to be offensive to both male and female but with bias against women and therefore likely to promote aggressive and violent behaviors towards women.

HIV-related stigma is a frequently cited barrier to HIV testing and care engagement. A nuanced understanding of HIV-related stigma is critical for developing stigma-reduction interventions to optimize HIV-related outcomes. This qualitative study documented HIV-related stigma across eight communities in east Africa during the baseline year of a large HIV test-and-treat trial (SEARCH, NCT: 01864603), prior to implementation of widespread community HIV testing campaigns and efforts to link individuals with HIV to care and treatment. Findings revealed experiences of enacted, internalized and anticipated stigma that were highly gendered, and more pronounced in communities with lower HIV prevalence; women, overwhelmingly, both held and were targets of stigmatizing attitudes about HIV. Past experiences with enacted stigma included acts of segregation, verbal discrimination, physical violence, humiliation and rejection. Narratives among women, in particular, revealed acute internalized stigma including feelings of worthlessness, shame, embarrassment, and these resulted in anxiety and depression, including suicidality among a small number of women. Anticipated stigma included fears of marital dissolution, verbal and physical abuse, gossip and public ridicule. Anticipated stigma was especially salient for women who held internalized stigma and who had experienced enacted stigma from their partners. Anticipated stigma led to care avoidance, care-seeking at remote facilities, and hiding of HIV medications. Interventions aimed at reducing individual and community-level forms of stigma may be needed to improve the lives of PLHIV and fully realize the promise of test-and-treat strategies.

Thesis advisor: Can Erbil
Violence against women and subsequent gender-based violence are issues that plague the world, harming women’s wellbeing as well as that of their families. Thirty-nine percent and twenty-one percent of Kenyan women have experienced physical and sexual violence, respectively, in their lifetimes. While there have been contested studies showing that employment can both increase and decrease the risk of suffering from violence, particularly in domestic settings, this study examines how a Kenyan woman’s experience of violence is likely to affect her level (formal or informal) of employment in the future. The results of this study indicate that emotional abuse, having a partner that drinks, educational attainment, living in a rural setting, and age are significant factors in a woman’s probability of working. Conditioned on working, experiencing controlling behaviors from a partner, educational attainment, justification of violence, ethnicity, income rank, partner’s occupation, and age at first marriage influence a woman’s probability of working informally. These results vary based on the type of employment studied, but can have wide-ranging consequences for the economic development of Kenya and empowerment of Kenyan women
Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2016
Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: Departmental Honors
Discipline: Economics

Since the emergence of the global child rights movement in the late 1990s, there has been a notable increase in research and policy focusing on child sexual abuse (CSA) in African settings (Mildred & Plummer, 2009). My thesis contributes to this field by using a case study approach to examine how residents of an informal settlement define and respond to CSA. Studies in Tanzanian settings have started to explore communities’ perceptions of CSA (Abeid, Muganyizi, Olsson, Darj, & Axemo, 2014; Kisanga, Nystrom, Hogan, & Emmelin, 2011). However, the thesis moves beyond questioning what types of sexual acts are understood to constitute CSA, instead asking why some acts are considered abusive and others not. Recognizing the culturally constructed nature of abuse, it examines how living within the informal settlement context affects residents’ understandings of two prominent themes: consent and harm. The thesis also examines local protective mechanisms for preventing and responding to acts of CSA. When considering CSA prevention, it notes that local prevention strategies typically utilize a risk avoidance approach; there is consequently inadequate emphasis on addressing social, economic and infrastructural factors perpetuating the risk of CSA within informal settlements. Moreover, in a research setting where statutory and community-based normative frameworks co-exist, the thesis analyses the impact of legal pluralism on decision-making relating to access to justice. Drawing on Moore’s (1973) concept of semi-autonomous social fields, it argues that the co-existence of multiple systems allows for a high level of choice over which interventions to pursue. However, adults typically make decisions on victims’ behalf, potentially choosing interventions that meet their own interests, rather than prioritizing the child’s. The choice offered by co-existing normative systems can therefore disadvantage victims of CSA in their pursuit of justice.

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of alcohol abuse on intimate partner violence (IPV) committed in Kibera, Kenya. The study is premised on the high prevalence of IPV and alcohol abuse in Kenya, especially among informal settlement dwellers. Kenya is geographically located in Eastern Africa. Kibera is an informal settlement in the country’s capital city, Nairobi, and is plagued by extreme poverty, unemployment and crime. A qualitative approach was implemented and a case study research design employed. Non-probability sampling, using purposive and snowball techniques, was used to select research participants. A total of 32 female victims of IPV made up the sample used in the study. Although the study did not intend to exclude males from the sample, no male victims of IPV could be located. Semi-structured interviews were held individually with each participant. Ethical considerations were actively applied throughout the duration of the study. The raw data collected were thematically analysed. The findings of the study revealed that most of the participants were under 40 years old, married, and had at least one child. Their educational levels were limited, and their occupations as well as their partners’ occupations generated low incomes. Physical and psychological abuse were cited as the most common types of abuse. However, sexual abuse was still prevalent and in some cases was extended to the children. The physical and psychological impacts were identified as the most prevalent effects of IPV. The effects on the children and family were also explored. The study found a strong link between alcohol use and IPV. However, alcohol use and/or abuse could not be identified as the only causal factor of IPV. Interestingly, the participants’ experiences highlighted the patriarchal and cultural milieu significant to Kibera. It was found that the patriarchal nature maintained in Kibera is one of the factors contributing to IPV and its perpetuation.
Utafiti huu ulilenga kuchunguza athari za pombe kwa dhuluma zinazosababishwa na mpenzi unayeshiriki naye ngono (IPV) katika eneo la Kibera nchini Kenya. Utafiti huu unatokana na kiwango cha juu cha hali ya IPV na unywaji wa pombe kupindukia nchini Kenya, hasa kwa wanaoishi kwenye mitaa ya mabanda. Kenya hupatikana katika eneo la kijiografia la Afrika Mashariki. Kibera ni mtaa wa mabanda ambao unapatikana katika mji mkuu wa Nairobi. Kibera inakabiliwa na umasikini uliokithiri, ukosefu wa ajira na uhalifu. Mbinu ya kutathmini ubora ilitumika, na uchunguzi kifani ulitumika. Sampuli isiyokuwa na welekeo wa uwezekano ilitumika, kwa kutumia mbinu za kimakusudi, na kwa kuongeza mambo utafiti unapoendelea wakati wa kuchagua watu wa kushiriki kwenye utafiti. Jumla ya waathiriwa wa IPV 32 wa kike walitumika kama sampuli katika utafiti huu. Ijapokuwa utafiti haukuwa na lengo la kutowashirikisha wanaume, hakuna muathiriwa wa IPV wa kiume alipatikana. Maswali yaliyokuwa na utaratibu maalum yalitumika kwa kila mshiriki. Maadili yalizingatiwa mno wakati wa mchakato mzima wa utafiti. Data iliyokusanywa ilichanganuliwa kwa kuzingatia mada. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalionyesha kuwa wengi wa washiriki waliokuwa na umri usiozidi miaka 40, walikuwa wameolewa na angalau mtoto mmoja. Hawakuwa wamesoma mno, na wao pamoja na wapenzi wao walikuwa na ajira zenye ujira duni. Kupigwa na kuteswa kisaikolojia ni dhuluma zilizojitokeza mno. Hata hivyo, unyanyasaji wa kimapenzi bado ulishuhudiwa na hata wakati mwingine ulifanyiwa watoto. Madhara kwa mwili na ya kisaikolojia yalijitokeza kama athari kuu za IPV. Athari kwa watoto na kwa familia pia zilichunguzwa. Utafiti huu ulionyesha kuwa kuna uhusiano mkuu kati ya matumizi ya pombe kupindukia na IPV. Hata hivyo, matumizi ya pombe/au kulewa kupindukia siyo tu mambo yanayosababisha IPV. Cha kushangaza, hali zilizoelezwa na washiriki zilionyesha umuhimu wa mfumo dume kwa utamaduni wa watu wa Kibera. Iligunduliwa kuwa mfumo wa udume unaoendelea katika eneo la kibera, ni mojawapo wa mambo yanayochangia IPV na kuendelezwa kwake Utafiti huu ulilenga kuchunguza athari za pombe kwa dhuluma zinazosababishwa na mpenzi unayeshiriki naye ngono (IPV) katika eneo la Kibera nchini Kenya. Utafiti huu unatokana na kiwango cha juu cha hali ya IPV na unywaji wa pombe kupindukia nchini Kenya, hasa kwa wanaoishi kwenye mitaa ya mabanda. Kenya hupatikana katika eneo la kijiografia la Afrika Mashariki. Kibera ni mtaa wa mabanda ambao unapatikana katika mji mkuu wa Nairobi. Kibera inakabiliwa na umasikini uliokithiri, ukosefu wa ajira na uhalifu. Mbinu ya kutathmini ubora ilitumika, na uchunguzi kifani ulitumika. Sampuli isiyokuwa na welekeo wa uwezekano ilitumika, kwa kutumia mbinu za kimakusudi, na kwa kuongeza mambo utafiti unapoendelea wakati wa kuchagua watu wa kushiriki kwenye utafiti. Jumla ya waathiriwa wa IPV 32 wa kike walitumika kama sampuli katika utafiti huu. Ijapokuwa utafiti haukuwa na lengo la kutowashirikisha wanaume, hakuna muathiriwa wa IPV wa kiume alipatikana. Maswali yaliyokuwa na utaratibu maalum yalitumika kwa kila mshiriki. Maadili yalizingatiwa mno wakati wa mchakato mzima wa utafiti. Data iliyokusanywa ilichanganuliwa kwa kuzingatia mada. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalionyesha kuwa wengi wa washiriki waliokuwa na umri usiozidi miaka 40, walikuwa wameolewa na angalau mtoto mmoja. Hawakuwa wamesoma mno, na wao pamoja na wapenzi wao walikuwa na ajira zenye ujira duni. Kupigwa na kuteswa kisaikolojia ni dhuluma zilizojitokeza mno. Hata hivyo, unyanyasaji wa kimapenzi bado ulishuhudiwa na hata wakati mwingine ulifanyiwa watoto. Madhara kwa mwili na ya kisaikolojia yalijitokeza kama athari kuu za IPV. Athari kwa watoto na kwa familia pia zilichunguzwa. Utafiti huu ulionyesha kuwa kuna uhusiano mkuu kati ya matumizi ya pombe kupindukia na IPV. Hata hivyo, matumizi ya pombe/au kulewa kupindukia siyo tu mambo yanayosababisha IPV. Cha kushangaza, hali zilizoelezwa na washiriki zilionyesha umuhimu wa mfumo dume kwa utamaduni wa watu wa Kibera. Iligunduliwa kuwa mfumo wa udume unaoendelea katika eneo la kibera, ni mojawapo wa mambo yanayochangia IPV na kuendelezwa kwake Utafiti huu utakuwa na manufaa kwa waathiriwa wa IPV, jamii wanazotoka na watungaji wa sheria za kitaifa bila kusahau jamii ya watafiti wa kisayansi.
Maikemisetso a thutopatlisiso eno e ne e le go tlhotlhomisa tshusumetso ya tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi mo tirisodikgokeng ya balekane ba baratani (IPV) e e diragalang kwa Kibera, Kenya. Thutopatlisiso e theilwe mo tiragalong e e kwa godimo ya IPV le tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi kwa Kenya, bogolo segolo magareng ga banni ba mafelo a baipei. Kenya e fitlhelwa kwa Botlhaba jwa Aforika. Kibera ke lefelo la baipei mo motsemogolong wa naga, Nairobi, mme e aparetswe ke lehuma, botlhokatiro le bosenyi jo bo boitshegang. Go dirisitswe molebo o o lebelelang mabaka mme ga dirisiwa thadiso ya thutopatlisiso e e lebelelang kgetse. Go dirisitswe mokgwa wa go tlhopha sampole moo baagi ba se nang tšhono e e tshwanang ya go nna le seabe le dithekeniki tsa go tlhopha sampole go ya ka maitlhomo le go letla banni-le-seabe ba pele go ngokela ba bangwe go tlhopha banni-le-seabe ba patlisiso. Palogotlhe ya batswasetlhabelo ba basadi ba IPV ba le 32 e nnile sampole e e dirisitsweng mo thutopatlisisong. Le fa thutopatlisiso e ne e sa ikaelela go se akaretse banna mo sampoleng, go ne go se na batswasetlhabelo bape ba IPV ba banna ba ba tlhageletseng. Go nnile le dipotsolotso tse di batlileng go rulagana tse di tshwerweng le monni-le-seabe mongwe le mongwe ka sebele. Go dirisitswe ntlha ya maitsholo a a siameng ka botlhaga mo tsamaong ya thutopatlisiso yotlhe. Data e e kokoantsweng e ne ya lokololwa go ya ka meono. Diphitlhelelo tsa thutopatlisiso di senotse gore bontsi jwa banni-le-seabe ba ne ba le dingwaga tse di kwa tlase ga 40, ba nyetswe mme ba na le bonnye ngwana a le mongwe. Seelo sa bona sa thuto se ne se lekanyeditswe mme ditiro tsa bona gammogo le tsa balekane ba bona di ne di tsenya letseno le le kwa tlase. Tshotlakako ya mo mmeleng le ya maikutlo di tlhagisitswe jaaka mefuta e e tlwaelegileng thata ya tshotlakako. Le gale, tshotlakako ya thobalano e ne e ntse e le teng mme mo mabakeng mangwe e ne e fetela le mo baneng. Ditlamorago tsa mo mmeleng le mo tlhaloganyong di supilwe jaaka ditlamorago tse di bonalang thata tsa IPV. Go lebeletswe le ditlamorago mo baneng le mo lelapeng. Thutopatlisiso e fitlhetse go na le kgolagano e e maatla magareng ga tiriso ya nnotagi le IPV. Le gale, tiriso le/gongwe tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi ga e a supiwa e le yona fela ntlha e e bakang xi IPV. Se se kgatlhisang ke gore maitemogelo a banni-le-seabe a senotse ka moo tsamaiso e e letlang banna go laola basadi le setso di laolang basadi ka gona mo loagong e leng se se maleba tota kwa Kiberia. Go fitlhetswe gore tsamaiso ya setšhaba e e letlang banna go laola basadi e e tswelediwang kwa Kiberia ke nngwe ya dintlha tse di tshwaelang le go etegetsa IPV. Thutopatlisiso e lebeletse go ungwela batswasetlhabelo ba IPV, baagi ba selegae le lekgotlataolo la bosetšhaba, gammogo le dipatlisiso tsa saense.
Criminology and Security Science
M.A. (Criminology)

This chapter identifies two primary mechanisms that could lead to antifeminist backlash. The first is declining male economic status. Globally, men are losing earning power due to deindustrialization in the Global North and rising unemployment in the Global South. Unemployed and underemployed men lose power within their families, particularly if the wife becomes the primary breadwinner. Men react to this loss of status by turning conservative and striving to reconstruct traditional gender roles. This leads to fights against reproductive rights and in favor of traditional religion. Male resentment from lost earning power also leads to domestic abuse and sexism on its own. It increases societal violence, which leads to sexual violence and male control of women. The chapter then looks at antifeminism in Poland, Yemen, Kenya, Central America, and Argentina.