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Intimate partner violence: A key correlate of women’s physical and mental health in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya

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  • Winter, Samantha
  • Obara, Lena Moraa
  • McMahon, Sarah

Abstract

Globally, one billion people live in informal settlements, and that number is expected to triple by 2050. Studies suggests that health in informal settlements is a serious and growing concern, yet there is a paucity of research focused on health outcomes and the correlates of health in these settlements. Studies cite individual, environmental and social correlates to health in informal settlements, but they often lack empirical evidence. In particular, research suggests that high rates of violence against women (VAW) in informal settlements may be associated with detrimental effects on women’s health, but few studies have investigated this link. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap by empirically exploring associations between women’s experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their physical and mental health. Data for this study were collected in August 2018 in Mathare Valley Informal Settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. A total of 550 randomly-selected women participated in surveys; however, analyses for this study were run on a subpopulation of the women (n=361). Multivariate logistic regressions were used to investigate the link between psychological, sexual, and emotional IPV and women’s mental and physical health. Results suggest that while some socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental variables were significantly associated with women’s mental and physical health outcomes, all types of IPV emerged key correlates in this context. In particular, women’s experiences of IPV were associated with lower odds of normal-high physical health component scores (based on SF-36); higher odds of gynecological and reproductive health issues, psychological distress (based on K-10), depression, suicidality, and substance use. Findings from this study suggest that policies and interventions focused on prevention and response to VAW in informal settlements may make critical contributions to improving health for women in these rapidly growing settlements.

Suggested Citation

  • Winter, Samantha & Obara, Lena Moraa & McMahon, Sarah, 2020. "Intimate partner violence: A key correlate of women’s physical and mental health in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya," OSF Preprints hs2dv, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:osfxxx:hs2dv
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/hs2dv
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    1. Lucy S. Tusting & Donal Bisanzio & Graham Alabaster & Ewan Cameron & Richard Cibulskis & Michael Davies & Seth Flaxman & Harry S. Gibson & Jakob Knudsen & Charles Mbogo & Fredros O. Okumu & Lorenz Sei, 2019. "Mapping changes in housing in sub-Saharan Africa from 2000 to 2015," Nature, Nature, vol. 568(7752), pages 391-394, April.
    2. repec:wbk:wbpubs:6896 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Rahma Hassan & Teela Sanders & Susan Gichuna & Rosie Campbell & Mercy Mutonyi & Peninah Mwangi, 2023. "Informal settlements, Covid-19 and sex workers in Kenya," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(8), pages 1483-1496, June.
    2. Vibian Angwenyi & Margaret Kabue & Esther Chongwo & Adam Mabrouk & Ezra Kipngetich Too & Rachel Odhiambo & Carophine Nasambu & Joyce Marangu & Derrick Ssewanyana & Eunice Njoroge & Eunice Ombech & Mer, 2021. "Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic among Caregivers of Young Children in Kenya’s Urban Informal Settlements. A Cross-Sectional Telephone Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-18, September.

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