R.E.S.P.e.c.T and intimate partner violence: a cross-sectional study using DHS data in Kenya

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Women's Health
• Social Epidemiology

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 30% of women globally.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. framework to address IPV.
• Understanding the efficacy of the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. framework in diverse settings is crucial for IPV prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between the WHO's R.E.S.P.E.C.T. framework and intimate partner violence (IPV) among women in Kenya.
• To assess the impact of specific R.E.S.P.E.C.T. strategies on reducing the likelihood of experiencing IPV.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), focusing on women in married or cohabiting relationships (n=3737).
• Developed a summary score for R.E.S.P.E.C.T. strategies based on KDHS questions and assessed reliability using Cronbach's alpha.
• Employed multiple logistic regression models to analyze the relationship between R.E.S.P.E.C.T. scores and the prevalence of IPV.

Main Results:

• All R.E.S.P.E.C.T. strategies, except for land and property ownership (E), were associated with lower odds of IPV.
• Decision-making (R), access to healthcare (S), wealth (P), and not justifying wife-beating (T) significantly reduced IPV risk.
• A higher total R.E.S.P.E.C.T. score was strongly associated with decreased odds of experiencing IPV, even after adjusting for demographics.

Conclusions:

• The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. framework demonstrates potential for significantly reducing intimate partner violence against women.
• A comprehensive, multi-strategy approach is essential for effective IPV prevention.
• Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) can serve as valuable tools for monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. framework.