Socio-economic and socio-cultural factors Influencing gender based violence incidences in Khwisero district

Abstract

Gender Based Violence has remained a major challenge for the governments around the world. Kenya in particular has suffered for long over gender based violence both in urban and rural areas. Despite the effort by the government and donor agencies in addressing gender based violence, the vice has remained an issue especially in Khwisero District. This study was therefore carried out to establish the socio economic and socio cultural factors influencing gender based violence incidences in Khwisero District. More specifically, the study was guided by the following objectives: To establish the extent to which demographic characteristics of women and men in the study area influenced gender based violence incidences in Khwisero District, to determine the extent to which alcohol use influenced gender based violence incidences in Khwisero District, to establish the extent to which women's economic status influenced incidences of gender based violence and to determine the extent to which cultural factors influenced gender based violence incidences in Khwisero District. A descriptive research design was adopted since it employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample size of 350 households was selected from a target population of 23,574 households using Fischer's formula and distributed to all 20 sub locations using probability sampling. Data was collected using a questionnaire, which was administered to women and men found in households, key informant interviews with National Administrators, Officer Commanding Police Station, NGO representative and health workers. Simple random sampling technique was applied in selecting the respondents in each household. The statistical tools that were used for analyzing the data include descriptive statistics with the aid of computer software Statistic Package for Social Scientists and a relationship between variables was determined through cross tabulation and chi square. The findings of the study are that majority 206 (or 61.7 %.) had experienced physical violence, few talked of experiencing sexual violence at 58 (or 17.4%) while economic violence was at 127 (or 38%). The result of chi-square analysis shows there were no significant relationship between the age of respondents and the incidences of gender based violence, age and physical violence (x2 = 10.587, p<O.Ol), age and economic violence (x2 = 26.220, p<O.Ol), age and sexual violence (x2 = 11.895, p<O.Ol).Further analysis showed no significant relationship between physical violence and education level (x2=4.881, p<O.Ol) ,education level and sexual violence (x2=8.731, p<O.Ol) and education level and economic violence (x2=10.224,p<0.01)correlation analysis showed significant relationship between physical violence and household size (x2= 22.675, p<O.Ol), sexual violence and household size (x2= 26.864 p<O.Ol), and economic violence and household size (x2=27.386 p<O.Ol). The study also observed that 183(0r.52.7%) of the respondents strongly agreed alcohol consumption by partner increased gender based violence incidences while 26 (or 8%) strongly disagreed. It is, therefore, the recommendation of this study that efforts should be made by the county government and Non-Governmental Organizations to ensure that women and men in Khwisero are economically empowered so that they do not rely on their partners who take advantage and continually abuse them. The national administration should regulate alcohol consumption in Khwisero District particularly the local brew through strict enforcement of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010.It is therefore concluded based on the findings of the research that gender based violence is a common problem among the community in the study area.