Interpersonal Violence Against Women and Maternity Care in Migori County, Kenya: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Survey

In Kenya, interpersonal violence (IPV) is an issue of major public health concern, with 24 percent of Kenyan women reporting physical violence from a current husband or partner. IPV has profound impacts on physical and mental health outcomes, particularly for pregnant women; it has been found to increase the risk of perinatal mortality, low birth weight and preterm birth. 

In a new journal article published in Frontiers Global Women’s Health, Lawrence Were and co-authors identified variables associated with IPV and assessed the effects of IPV experience on prenatal and peripartum maternal healthcare in Migori County, Kenya. The study examined survey responses from cross-sectional households in six wards of Migori County, Kenya in 2021 from female respondents aged 18 and older. The analyses performed describe community prevalence, factors associated with IPV against women, and the effect of IPV exposure on prenatal and peripartum health care. 

Key findings: 

• Over 36 percent of the 6,290 respondents have experienced lifetime IPV. 
• IPV experience was associated with women aged 25-49; monogamous marriage; polygamous marriage; being widowed, divorced or separated; feeling an attitude of “sometimes okay” toward wife beating; having been exposed to IPV in girlhood and feeling safe in the current relationship. 
• A depression score of mild and severe was found to be associated with IPV experience.
• Women who experienced emotional abuse were much more likely to have experienced IPV. 
• Adjusted analyses showed that having experienced IPV was negatively associated with attending at least four antenatal care visits during the most recent pregnancy and with having a skilled birth attendant. 

The authors conclude that there is a need for enhanced effort in addressing social and gender norms that perpetuate IPV, and this study can contribute to guiding policy interventions and community responses toward IPV.