Factors contributing to domestic violence among women of reproductive age (15-49) attending GBV centre at Nakuru County level 5 hospital

Abstract

Background: Domestic violence refers to all acts of physical, sexual psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim.
Objective: To determine factors contributing to domestic violence among women of reproductive age (15-49) attending GBV centre at Nakuru County level 5 Hospital.
Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study
Setting: Nakuru County Level 5 Hospital. Nakuru County, Kenya
Subjects/Participants: Women of reproductive age (15-49) attending GBV centre at Nakuru County level 5 Hospital.
Results: Thirty-one per cent (31%) of the respondents were aged 18 - 28 years while 19% were aged above 50 years, 32% were married while 18% were widows/widowers. The findings further revealed that 36% of the respondents got their income from the farm while 42% earned between 500 - 5000Kshs monthly, while minorities 8% earned Kshs15,001 and above. Culture influenced domestic violence, majority 77% of the respondents said their culture did not allow women to make decisions concerning the family. It was also found that 65% of the respondents were aware of domestic violence and 30% said domestic violence was common in their area. Fifty-nine per cent knew victims of domestic violence.
Conclusion: Culture was the main contributing factor to domestic violence. Men were allowed to beat their wives as a form of punishment for an alleged mistake or behavior.