Sexual Harassment Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (Agyw) In Nairobi, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Date
2022
Authors
Bevilacqua, Kristin G
Williams, A
Wood, Shannon N
Ngare, G Wamue
Thiongo, Mary
Gichangi, P
Decker, Michele R
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
British Medical Journal Publishing Group
Abstract
Objectives Sexual harassment among adolescent girls
and young women (AGYW) is a prevalent and understudied
form of gender-based
violence (GBV) with negative
impacts on health and well-being.
The COVID-19
pandemic
raised global concern about GBV within homes; less is
known about how it affected GBV in public spaces.
Methods Present analyses use cross-sectional
data
from a cohort of adolescents and young adults residing
in Nairobi, Kenya, restricted to female participants. Data
were collected August–October 2020 via phone after
implementation of COVID-19
restrictions. Prevalence of
past-year
sexual harassment and harassment relative to
COVID-19
restrictions were calculated for overall sample,
and by individual, household, and pandemic-related
factors. Multivariate negative binomial regression models
examine correlates of (1) past-year
sexual harassment and
(2) increases in sexual harassment relative to COVID-19
restrictions.
Results Overall, 18.1% of AGYW experienced past-year
sexual harassment at the 2020 survey. Among this group,
14.6% experienced sexual harassment pre-COVID-
19
only, 18.8% after only and 66.6% at both time points.
Among the latter group, 34.9% reported more occurrences
following COVID-19
restrictions, 20.5% reported less
occurrences and 44.7% reported no change in occurrence.
Overall, 42.0% of AGYW experienced an increase in
sexual harassment while 58.0% experienced no increase
since COVID-19.
In adjusted models, past-year
sexual
harassment was associated with higher educational
attainment (adjusted risk ratio, aRR 2.11; 95% CI 1.27 to
3.52) and inability to meet basic financial needs (aRR 1.67;
95% CI 1.05 to 2.66). Increased sexual harassment since
COVID-19
was associated with having full control to leave
the home (aRR 1.69; 95% CI 1.00 to 2.90).
Conclusions Sexual harassment among AGYW in
Nairobi, Kenya was prevalent before and during
COVID-19
restrictions. Safety in public spaces remains
a highly gendered issue that impacts women’s safety
and ability to participate in public life. Prevention and
support services to address sexual harassment remain
an important element in ensuring safe, sustainable public spaces.
Description
Article
Keywords
Citation
Bevilacqua, K. G., Williams, A., Wood, S. N., Wamue-Ngare, G., Thiongo, M., Gichangi, P., & Decker, M. R. (2022). Sexual harassment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Nairobi, Kenya: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 12(10), e066777.