Sexual Violence Risks Associated with Shared Sanitation Facilities in Informal Settlements, Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2025-03
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Sexual violence refers to acts of sexual abuse that include rape, sexual assault, unwanted touching, and sexual harassment that are committed against women and men without their consent. Understanding the context of sanitation-related sexual violence in countries that have inadequate sanitation infrastructure is significant because of the link between the shared sanitation facilities and the well-being of the people living in the informal settlements. Sanitation is a critical element in public health, and effectively considering gender while providing sustainable sanitation and hygiene services, may contribute to improved relationships and attitudes towards the vulnerable population in the community. There is a need for integrated and sustainable innovative strategies to respond to sanitation-related sexual violence. The study used a cross-sectional observational design to examine the sexual violence linked to shared sanitation facilities in the informal settlement of Jua Kali, in Nairobi County. The variables included sexual violence (dependent) and socio-demographic, sanitation-related, and perception factors (independent). A sample of 381 participants, drawn systematically from the population, provided quantitative data through self-administered questionnaires. Instrument validity and reliability were assured through expert review and a pilot test conducted in a neighboring settlement. For qualitative insights, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted and analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns and contextual factors associated with sexual violence. Data was processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, where cross-tabulations were used for analysis. Data was presented in graphical presentations for descriptive statistics. The emerging trends were presented in charts, graphs, and tables. A significant proportion of sanitation-related sexual violence was experienced by female respondents, with 90% of reported cases involving women, compared to 10% involving men. The majority of respondents who experienced sanitation-related sexual violence were Christians (78.4%), and were four times more likely to encounter such violence (OR = 3.641, 95% CI = 1.067-3.972, p = 0.0001). Most respondents, 67.2%, demonstrated willingness to question or challenge the perpetrator’s behaviour, while 15.2% had already done so. The study revealed that respondents who were 30-39 years, 40-49 years, and males were three, two, and one and a half times, respectively more likely to question the behavior of perpetrators. The results indicated significant associations between a number of factors and sanitation-related sexual violence. These factors included long distances (greater than 50 meters) (p=0.030, ꭓ2=5.471, df 1), shared sanitation facilities (p=0.0001, ꭓ2=43.747, df 1), safety at water points (p=0.0001, ꭓ2=11.782, df 1), lighting at sanitation facilities (p=0.001, ꭓ2=11.144, df 1), and non-central sanitation facilities (p=0.001, ꭓ2=12.700, df 1). Thus, it is important for the national and county governments, including the security agencies, to put in place preventive and prompt responses that address incidents of sexual violence related to shared sanitation in the informal settlements.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Health in the School of Health Sciences of Kenyatta University, March 2025.
Supervisors
1. Justus O. S Osero
2. Jackim Nyamari