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Patterns of sexual violence against adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: a prospective cross-sectional study.
Rockowitz, Sarah; Stevens, Laura M; Rockey, James C; Smith, Lisa L; Ritchie, Jessica; Colloff, Melissa F; Kanja, Wangu; Cotton, Jessica; Njoroge, Dorothy; Kamau, Catherine; Flowe, Heather D.
  • Rockowitz S; School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Stevens LM; School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Rockey JC; Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Smith LL; School of Criminology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
  • Ritchie J; School of Criminology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
  • Colloff MF; School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Kanja W; Wangu Kanja Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Cotton J; School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
  • Njoroge D; Department of Journalism & Corporate Communication, United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Kamau C; Wangu Kanja Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Flowe HD; School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK h.flowe@bham.ac.uk.
BMJ Open ; 11(9): e048636, 2021 09 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1398675
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

This study examined patterns of sexual violence against adults and children in Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform sexual violence prevention, protection, and response efforts.

DESIGN:

A prospective cross-sectional research design was used with data collected from March to August 2020.

SETTING:

Kenya.

PARTICIPANTS:

317 adults, 224 children. MAIN

MEASURES:

Perpetrator and survivor demographic data, characteristics of the assault.

RESULTS:

Bivariate analyses found that children were more likely than adults to be attacked during daytime (59% vs 44%, p<0.001) by a single perpetrator rather than multiple perpetrators (31% vs 13%, p<0.001) in a private as opposed to a public location (66% vs 45%, p<0.001) and by someone known to the child (76% vs 58%, p<0.001). Children were violated most often by neighbours (29%) and family members (20%), whereas adults were equally likely to be attacked by strangers (41%) and persons known to them (59%). These variables were entered as predictors into a logistic regression model that significantly predicted the age group of the survivor, χ2(5, n=541)=53.3, p<0.001.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patterns of sexual violence against adult and child survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic are different, suggesting age-related measures are needed in national emergency plans to adequately address sexual violence during the pandemic and for future humanitarian crises.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Sex Offenses / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2021-048636

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Sex Offenses / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2021-048636