Sexual Violence against Adolescent Girls in Mixed-Day Secondary Schools in Limuru Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2015
Authors
Kimani, Eunice W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Sexual violence against adolescent girls (SV AG) is a global concern due to its adverse
effects on the overall health of these girls. In Kenya, cases of sexual violence in this
age group are reported to be at 33%. The study explored sexual violence among
adolescent girls (15-19 years) in the nine (9) mixed day secondary schools of Limuru
Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya. The broad objective of the study was: to assess
the status of SVAG in mixed day school in Limuru Sub-county, Kiambu County. The
specific objectives were: To establish the proportion of adolescent girls in mixed day
schools in Limuru Sub-county affected by SVAG, to determine the perpetrators of
SVAG in mixed day schools in Limuru Sub-county, to determine the factors that
increase vulnerability of adolescent girls in mixed day schools in Limuru Sub-county
to sexual violence, and to determine the factors that affect disclosure levels on sexual
violence matters among adolescent girls in mixed day schools in Limuru Sub-county.
The study was cross sectional in nature and collected qualitative and quantitative data.
The research instruments that were employed in gathering data included selfadministered
questionnaires with the 301 sampled girls. The number of girls sampled
in every school was proportionate to the number of adolescent girls in that school.
Systematic sampling was then used to select the individual girls to participate in every
school. Girls who were aged 15-19 years, who were in any mixed day secondary
school in Limuru Sub-county, those that had been in the school for three terms and
those who consented to participate in the study were illegible. Those who were
excluded were girls who failed to consent to participate in the study as well as those
who were absent from school during sampling. Three Focus Group Discussions
(FGDs) were conducted; one in each educational zone of the Sub-county to enrich the
data collected using the questionnaires. Key informant interviews were conducted
with two officials in the Children's Sub-county office, two medical officers, as well as
with two police officers stationed in Limuru Sub-county and two school heads
selected at random. 32.6% of the respondents were affected by SVAG. Of these cases,
85% had experienced forced touching, 51% had experienced attempted sex and 15%
had experienced forced sex. In all the three forms of SVAG, male perpetrators
constituted more than 96%. Boyfriends (32%) were the commonest perpetrators of
sexual violence. About 49% of the perpetrators were reported to have been under the
influence of psychoactive substances when committing the sexual violence. Most of
the SVAG (40%) was done in the perpetrator's home. Factors that showed a
significant association with vulnerability to SVAG were: alcohol use (OR=3.4
p=O.OOI), forced sex at debut (OR=62.4 p=O.OOO)and family. connectedness (p=O.OOI
OR=10.6). Social economic status and age of adolescent girl did not show any
significant association with vulnerability to SVAG. Disclosure levels were low:
forced sex (7%), attempted sex (12%) and forced touch (15%). Factors that showed
significant association with disclosure levels were: level of knowledge on sexual
violence (OR=I.8 p=0.03), level of knowledge on service availability (OR=7.9
p=O.OI) and family connectedness (OR=2.29 p=0.02). Age of the girl did not show
any significant association with disclosure levels.
Description
Department of Environmental Health, 88p. 2015