Gender-Based Violence during COVID-19 among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Nairobi, Kenya: A Mixed-Methods Prospective Study Over 18 Months

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dc.contributor.authorDecker, Michele R
dc.contributor.authorBevilacqua, Kristin
dc.contributor.authorWood, Shannon N
dc.contributor.authorNgare, Grace Wamue
dc.contributor.authorThiongo, Mary
dc.contributor.authorByrne, Meagan E
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Anaise
dc.contributor.authorDevoto, Bianca
dc.contributor.authorGlass, Nancy
dc.contributor.authorHeise, Lori
dc.contributor.authorGichangi, Peter
dc.date.accessioned2023-04-04T13:25:07Z
dc.date.available2023-04-04T13:25:07Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionArticleen_US
dc.description.abstractIntroduction Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) disproportionately experience gender-based violence (GBV), which can increase during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cohort of youth ages 15–24 in Nairobi, Kenya was surveyed at three time points over an 18-month period prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic: June–August 2019 (prepandemic), August–October 2020 (12-month follow-up) and May 2021 (18-month follow-up). We characterise (1) prevalence, relative timing and help-seeking for leading forms of GBV, (2) GBV trajectories over 18 months and (3) associations of individual, dyad and COVID-related factors on GBV trajectories among AGYW (n=612) in Nairobi, Kenya. Virtual focus group discussions (n=12) and interviews (n=40) contextualise quantitative results. Results Intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence hovered at 17% across time points (ever at pre-pandemic; past 12 months at 12-month follow-up (2020); past 6 months at 18-month follow-up (2021)); non-partner sexual violence (SV) was 3% at 12-month and 18-month follow-up. Overall, 27.6% of AGYW experienced IPV during the pandemic. IPV during the pandemic was associated with work as the primary pre-COVID activity, low social support and partner age difference >4 years. Among AGYW partnered at all three time points, 66.2% stayed IPV-free (no IPV), 9.2% saw IPV resolve by 18-month follow-up, while 11.1% had IPV start and 13.6% experienced intermittent IPV. Help-seeking for IPV and SV in 2020 (11.1% and 4.6%, respectively) increased to 21.7% and 15.1%, respectively, by 2021. Qualitative results speak to impacts of curfews, and pandemic-related financial stress in prompting conflict and threatening traditional gender roles, and underlying conditions that enable IPV. Conclusion The persistence of IPV against AGYW in Nairobi prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic reflects endemic conditions and pandemic-specific stressors. Youth, including unmarried youth, remain a priority population for GBV prevention and survivor-centred response.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipBill & Melinda Gates Foundationen_US
dc.identifier.citationDecker, M. R., Bevilacqua, K., Wood, S. N., Ngare, G. W., Thiongo, M., Byrne, M. E., ... & Gichangi, P. (2022). Gender-based violence during COVID-19 among adolescent girls and young women in Nairobi, Kenya: a mixed-methods prospective study over 18 months. BMJ global health, 7(2), e007807.en_US
dc.identifier.otherdoi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007807.
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/25113
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherBMJ Specialist Journalsen_US
dc.titleGender-Based Violence during COVID-19 among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Nairobi, Kenya: A Mixed-Methods Prospective Study Over 18 Monthsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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