Determinants and prevalence of violence against children in low income urban households in Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

This study assessed the determinants and prevalence of violence against children in low income urban households in Eldoret, Kenya. Violence against children and the exploitation of children are global social, economic, human rights and public health issues, with significant negative health and social impacts. Even though the consequences of violence against children may vary according to its nature and severity, the short-term and long-term repercussions are often grave and damaging. Specific objectives of the study were: to examine the proportion of children who experienced different forms of violence in the study area; to identify perpetrators of different forms of violence against children and classify the forms of violence; to explore the social setting of occurrence of each form of violence; and to assess individual, household and community level factors that contribute to violence against children in the study area. Social Learning Theory has been used to explain the study findings. Survey research design was adopted for the study. In this study, data was collected using an interview schedule, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and expert interviews. The interview schedule was used to collect data from children of ages between five and seventeen years. A total of 246 households were sampled using purposive sampling also known as deliberate or judgmental sampling of Langas estate and systematic sampling procedure households in Langas. Data for the FGDs were drawn from the parents and guardians of the children. Data was also collected through expert interviews conducted on three state and non-state officials involved with children welfare in Eldoret. This study found the existence of violence against children from within and without the household. Most of the violence against children happened in the last one week prior to data collection, an indication that violence against children is a current and on-going phenomenon. It is recommended that absolute prohibition of violence against children and other ill-treatments need to be robustly defended and measures must urgently be put in place at the national and local levels to prevent occurrence of child violence and also to handle cases of violence against children.