Rose Njeri Gachoka-Gichuki

WOMEN’S PERCEPTION ON MARITAL VIOLENCE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON WIVES STAYING IN VIOLENT MARRIAGES. A STUDY OF NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

ROSE NJERI GACHOKA-GICHUKI

Thesis Submitted to Graduate School in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling

Psychology of Egerton University

EGERTON UNIVERSITY

August 2014

ABSTRACT

Violence against women in its various forms is endemic in communities around the world cutting across class, age, religion and national boundaries. It is one of the most pervasive human rights violations. It denies women equality, security, dignity, self worth and their right to enjoy fundamental freedoms. It destroys a woman’s sense of self, and undermines healthy families and communities. Violence poses serious mental and physical health risks on the victims. This has far-reaching consequences on the stability of the family, wellbeing of the children and society by extension. Despite the consequences of violence, some women have opted to stay in marriages in which violence exists. This study explored women’s perception on marital violence and its influence on wives staying in violent marriages. It was conducted in Kileleshwa and Kawangware locations within Nairobi County, Kenya. It was a descriptive survey employing ex post facto causal comparativeresearch design. The accessible population constituted thirty two thousand seven hundred and thirty one (32731) women from Kawangware location and fourteen thousand nine hundred and ninety five (14995) women from Kileleshwa location. A sample of nine hundred and eighty (980) women was used in the study. Purposive and systematic random sampling methods were used to select respondents for the study. The validity and reliability of the instruments were determined before the instruments were used to collect data. A Pilot study was carried out with a sample from Dik Dik and Kongo areas in Nairobi. Cronbach’s alpha was used to establish the reliability of the instruments. A reliability coefficient of 0.77 was obtained. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer program. The study found out that psychological violence was the most prevalent type of violence in Kileleshwa and Kawangware locations; that the women’s perception on marital violence was negative and therefore the women did not think that violence from a spouse is a crime against their rights; that lack of economic independence was the major factor that contributes to women staying in violent marriages in the two locations and that cultural practices and religion influences women’s perception on marital violence. The researcher recommends that government and Non Governmental Organizations involve men in awareness campaigns and public education programs. This will help to challenge misconceptions on marital violence. There is also need for creation of a strategy aimed at perceptions and behavior change towards marital violence.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION AND RECOMMENDATION

COPYRIGHT

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

1.0CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1Background Information

1.2Statement of the Problem

1.3Purpose of the Study

1.4Objectives of the Study

1.5Hypotheses of the Study:

1.6Significance of the Study

1.7Scope of the Study

1.8Limitations of the Study

1.9Assumptions of the Study

1.10Definition of Terms

2.0CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1Introduction

2.2Typology and Prevalence of Violence Against Women

2.3Historical Perspective on Domestic Violence

2.4Extent of Marital Violence against Women

2.4.1Global Overview

2.4.2The Extent of Marital Violence in Africa

2.4.3Violence against Women in Kenya

2.5Global Perceptions of Domestic Violence

2.5.1Communities’ Attitude and Perception towards Gender Based Violence in Kenya

2.6Need for Police Gender Desks

2.6.1Referral Linkages between Police and Health Facilities for Sexual Abuse Survivors

2.7Consequences of Marital Violence on Women and other Family Members

2.7.1Physical Health Effects of Violence

2.7.2Psychological Effects of Violence

2.7.3Effects of Violence on Children

2.7.4Effects of Violence on the Perpetrators of Abuse

2.7.5Economic Impact on Health

2.7.6Denial of Women’s fundamental Rights

2.8Factors that Contribute to Women Staying in Marriages in which Violence Occur

2.8.1Emotional Attachment to the Abuser

2.8.2Fear by Women of Becoming Destitute

2.8.3Patriarchal Society Increases Violence

2.8.4Lack of Safety after Leaving the Marriage

2.9Counseling Needs for Abused Women

2.9.1Combating Intimate Partner Violence

2.9.2Counseling Intervention for Marital Violence

2.9.3Community –Based Prevention Programmes

2.9.4Psychological Counseling of Sexual Abuse Victims

2.9.5Role of Legal and Judicial Sectors in Curbing Gender Based Violence

2.10Theoretical Framework

2.10.1Feminist Theory by Jone Johnson Lewis (1999)

2.10.2Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura (1977)

2.11Conceptual Framework

3.0CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1Introduction

3.2Research Design

3.3Location of the Study

3.4Population of Study

3.5Sampling Procedure and Sample Size

3.6Instrumentation

3.6.1Focus Group Discussions

3.6.2Interview Schedules

3.7Validity of Instruments

3.8Reliability of Instruments

3.9Data Collection Procedure

3.10Data Analysis

4.0CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1Introduction

4.2Demographic Characteristics of the Sample and the Response Rate

4.2.1Distribution of Sample by Area Zone

4.2.2Age of Respondents

4.2.3Marital Status of Respondents

4.2.4Employment Status of the Respondents

4.2.5Respondents Partners’ Employment Status

4.2.6Period of Marriage of the respondents

4.2.7Respondents Level of Education

4.2.8Respondents Partners’ Education Level

4.2.9Respondents’ Religion

4.2.10Level of Commitment to Religion

4.2.11Province of Origin

4.3Types of Violence Perpetrated Against Married Women in Nairobi County.

4.3.1Psychological Abuse on Women Respondents

4.3.2Physical Abuse on Women

4.3.3Economic Abuse on Women

4.3.4Sexual Abuse on Women

4.4Women’s Perception on Marital Violence

4.4.1Respondents Perceptions on Marital Violence

4.4.2Perception of Respondents on Husband Hitting Wife

4.4.3Respondents Attitude Toward Marital Violence.

4.4.4Signs of Abuse in Relationships

4.4.5Characteristics Related with Happy and Stable Marriages

4.5Factors that Contribute to Women Staying in Violent Marriages

4.6Perception of Women towards the Influence of Cultural Beliefs and Practices on Marital Violence.

4.7Perception of Women towards Marital Violence Based on their Religious Commitment

4.8Extent of Marital Violence Perpetrated on Women Based on Selected Demographic Characteristics

4.8.1Extent of Marital Violence and Level of Education.

4.8.2Age and extent of abuse in Marriages.

5.0CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1Introduction

5.2Summary of Findings

5.3Conclusions

5.4Recommendations

5.5Suggestions for Further Research

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: RESEARCH AUTHORISATION LETTER

APPENDIX B: RESEARCH PERMIT

APPENDIX C: HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONNAIRE

APPENDIX D: COVAW INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

APPENDIX E: FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION SCHEDULE

APPENDIX F: CRONBACH’S COEFFICIENT ALPHA FORMULA

APPENDIX G: REQUIRED SIZE FOR RANDOMLY CHOSEN SAMPLE

APPENDIX H: KILELESHWA MAP

APPENDIX I: KAWANGWARE MAP

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