Relationship between substance abuse and sexual violence among women in informal urban settlements in Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2024-06
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Sexual assault is against the law in Kenya. Yet many people, particularly women and girls, continue to experience Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) without receiving much assistance, suggesting that the regulations in place are ineffective. Drug and substance abuse has also become prevalent especially among persons living within informal urban settings. This with the attendant rise in cases of domestic and SGBV means that there is a growing need for a deeper understanding of the nexus between drug abuse and sexual violence against women, and in particular, within Nairobi's informal urban settlements. Many women in Kenya have experienced sexual or physical assault. The research was guided by the following objectives: to determine the prevalence of substance-related sexual violence among women in Nairobi City County's informal urban settlements; to determine the relationship between substance abuse and sexual violence among women in Nairobi City County's informal urban settlements; and to formulate interventional measures to address the problem of substance abuse and sexual violence in informal urban settlements. The Social Learning Theory and Socio-Cognitive Theory guided this research. The study used a correlation study design with a target population of 139 women in the groups who have experienced GBV and SGBV. Using stratified selection, purposive sampling, and proportional sampling approaches, the Yamane formula was utilized to choose 106 respondents. Information was gathered through questionnaires and focus group talks. Descriptive statistics like frequencies, means, and standard deviations, as well as inferential statistics like Pearson moment correlation and chi square analysis, were used to analyze the data. Women may get information about sexual abuse and its link to drug misuse as a result of this research. This assisted them in understanding the significance of remaining sober and accepting responsibility in order to make sensible, informed judgments at any moment. from the study it was indicated that, both substance abuse and sexual violence have got tremendous negative consequences on the health, socioeconomic, emotional and psychological disposition of a person. Alcohol, cigarettes, bhang, and khat were among the drugs that were most frequently abused. The study also demonstrated the rise in drug and substance abuse led to increase in cases of sexual violence. This shows that efforts to combat drug use and substance abuse have not been successful. Therefore, the study suggests that the government develop more potent methods of combating drug use and substance abuse
Description
A research project submitted to the school of law, arts and social sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in counseling psychology of Kenyatta University, June 2024.
Supervisor. Robert C. Kipnusu