Association between experience of emotional violence and hypertension among Kenyan women.

ABSTRACT

Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) face increased risks of reproductive health issues and psychological distress. There is also a growing scholarly interest in its effect on cardiovascular health. About 30% of Kenyan women experience emotional violence, and 9.37% are hypertensive. Yet, there is the absence of localized studies on the role of emotional violence on hypertension risk. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the association between emotional violence and hypertension risk among women of reproductive age in Kenya. Using data from the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey, we analysed the data of 5,109 women. The outcome and exposure were hypertension status and emotional violence, respectively. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression models were computed in STATA version 18. Results were presented in tables, showing the frequency, percentage, and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI). The prevalence of hypertension was 9.78% [95% CI 8.73-10.94]. Women who had experienced emotional violence had 69% higher odds of hypertension [AOR 1.69; 95% CI 1.39-2.06]. After adjusting for covariates (i.e., age, place of residence, wealth status, exposure to media, and educational level), individuals who reported experiencing emotional violence exhibited a 51% higher odds of hypertension compared to those who did not [AOR 1.51; 95% CI 1.23-1.85]. There is a significant association between emotional violence and hypertension. The findings underscore a need for policy makers in Kenya to address emotional violence against women not only as a social issue but as a serious health risk factor. As such, the experience of emotional violence should be considered as part of the criteria to enhance hypertension screening among women.