Determinants of physical violence on married women by spouses in Kandura sub county, Murang’a County, Kenya
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Date
2018-10
Authors
Jonathan, Redempta Ngina
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Despite the many efforts put in place globally, regionally and at national level to reduce and eliminate Physical Violence against married women, this violence is still prevalent. It is one of the major forms of oppression against women. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of Physical Violence on married women by their spouses within the age of 18-45 years and above in Kandara Sub County, Murang‟a County, Kenya. The study objectives were to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of married women experiencing Physical Violence, to establish the socio-cultural factors influencing experience of Physical Violence on married women by spouses, to identify forms of Physical Violence perpetrated against married women by spouses and to identify the coping strategies adopted by married women experiencing Physical Violence. The Radical Feminist Theory by Hollace Graff, (2012) guided the study which was used to conceptualize the underlying factors that aggravate Physical Violence on married women by spouses. The study applied cross-sectional survey research approach to gather data from 111 married women experiencing Physical Violence and 11 state and non-state actors. Data collection tools included an interview schedule for married women experiencing Physical Violence and key informant interview for the chiefs, selected religious leaders from Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and Catholic churches, and law enforcers who included the police officers within the area of study. Secondary data was obtained from the records kept in the chief‟s office and police abstracts from the police station in the area of study. Qualitative data was sorted and analyzed thematically based on the objectives while quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from descriptive statistics revealed that slightly more than a third (34.2 %) of the married women aged between 25-31 years were the most physically violated by their spouses. Findings from inferential statistics showed that the determinants of Physical Violence were; married women‟s level of education (p=0.029), number of children (p=0.027), age of the spouse (p=0.043) and occupation of the spouse (p=0.048). The socio-cultural determinants of Physical Violence were: witnessing inter-parental violence by the married women (p=0.032), dowry related violence (p=0.036), spouse‟s use of alcohol, drugs and other substances (p= 0.045) and retrogressive traditional norms and beliefs (p= 0.001). Significant coping strategies adopted by married women: were running away from marital home (p= 0.039), reporting to the chief (p=0.002), sharing with married women‟s friends (p=0.028) and seeking help from hospital (p=0.038). The study concluded that PV against married women is a grave social and economic vice that requires a practical role of state, non-state actors, community members and active participation of both the married women and their spouses so as to address it. The study recommends the need to intensify awareness and sensitize people on Physical Violence against married women by spouses through seminars, workshops, group counselling, mass media, print media and social media networks by state and non-state actors, religious leaders and the community. In addition arms of government dealing with Gender Based Violence should strengthen their practice on the existing policies. The result of this would be elimination of Physical Violence on married women by spouses.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of master of science (population reproductive health and community resource management) in the school of public health and applied human sciences of Kenyatta University, October, 2018.