Prevalence and predictors of intimate partner violence against men in Kisumu slums, Kenya.

Abstract

Background: Men in sub-Saharan Africa experience intimate partner violence, with few reporting their cases to the legal authorities or coming out for assistance. Consequently, data on the prevalence and drivers of intimate partner violence in different parts of sub-Saharan Africa are inadequate. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of intimate partner violence against men in Kisumu slums, Kenya.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 398 randomly selected men in intimate relationships aged 18-54 years and residing in Kisumu slums. The sampling frame used was from Community Health Volunteers covering the area of study. Data collection using a structured questionnaire was conducted from July 2019 to September 2019 using simple random sampling. We used a multinomial regression analysis to assess relationships between predictors and forms of violence.

Results: A total of 398 male respondents participated in the survey. The prevalence of intimate partner violence against men was 76.1% with physical violence at 12.2%, sexual violence at 16.5%, emotional violence at 47.5%, and economic violence at 23.8%. From the multinomial regression, men who were married or living together, compared with never married, were 2.13 times more likely to have experienced physical violence (95% CI = 0.91-4.97, p = 0.080) and 2.41 times more likely to have experienced economic violence (95% CI = 1.20-4.84, p = 0.013). Compared to never married, men who divorced or separated were 5.42 times more likely to have experienced sexual violence (95% CI = 0.97-30.37, p = 0.055). Men who had primary education or less were 2.39 times more likely to have experienced sexual violence (95% CI = 1.02-5.61, p = 0.045). Men who were Muslim, compared with Protestants, were 2.37 times more likely to have experienced psychological or emotional violence (95% CI = 0.87-6.37, p = 0.086).

Conclusions: Sexual, physical, and emotional violence is common among men in Kisumu slums, and the prevalence differs by age, marital status, education, and religion. Safe spaces should be created that will enable men of diverse socio-demographic characteristics to share their experiences of violence by intimate partners. Policies, including education to increase awareness of this issue, should be enacted to protect men from intimate partner violence.