Determinants of Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinics in Bondo Sub-County, Kenya

Intimate partner violence (IPV) at any stage in pregnancy is an issue that threatens the health of both the mother and the unborn child. Understanding its prevalence and determinants is crucial for developing interventions. Despite being located in an area with higher rates of IPV during pregnancy than the national average, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of this form of abuse and its determinants in pregnant women in Bondo Sub-County. This study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and disclosure patterns of IPV among expectant mothers attending antenatal care (ANC) clinics in Bondo Sub-County. The study used a cross-sectional design and included a sample of 360 pregnant women recruited through systematic sampling method from ANC clinics in three healthcare facilities. Data on participants’ and their partners’ characteristics, experiences of IPV, social support and disclosure patterns were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered over a three-month period by trained research assistants from September to November 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to show the prevalence of IPV and disclosure patterns. Associations between potential risk factors and IPV were examined using multivariate logistic regression. The study findings revealed a 35.3% prevalence of IPV among expectant mothers attending ANC clinics in Bondo Sub-County. Psychological abuse (23.9%) was the form of IPV that most women reported. This was followed by sexual abuse (16.4%) and physical abuse (15.6%). Expectant mothers who were unemployed (AOR=2.90, 95%CI: 1.08-7.79), had partners who consumed alcohol on a daily (AOR=4.84, 95%CI: 1.69-13.88) or occasional basis (AOR=2.19, 95%CI: 1.16-4.13), and those who did not count on their siblings or parents for support (AOR= 2.48, 95%CI: 1.14-5.43) had significantly higher odds of facing IPV. Among women who faced IPV, only 40.2% disclosed their experiences to someone with the majority (60.8%) disclosing to parents and only 7.9% disclosing to institutions. In conclusion, the prevalence rate of IPV among expectant mothers attending ANC clinics in Bondo was high. Unemployment, having a partner who drinks alcohol and lack of support from siblings or parents were the main risk factors. Disclosure levels were low with the majority of women who disclosed their experiences disclosing to parents. The findings from this study point to the need for community and health care interventions to address IPV during pregnancy in Bondo Sub-County