Social context and drivers of intimate partner violence in rural Kenya: implications for the health of pregnant women

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is recognized as an important public health problem globally as well as in India. It may result in adverse physical and mental health consequences for the victim or unfavourable pregnancy outcomes if it happens during pregnancy. The possible risk factors for IPV can be explained by four levels of ecological factors: individual, partner, household and community. We estimated the prevalence of IPV and its association with selected ecological risk factors among pregnant women availing of antenatal care at a public sector hospital in Bengaluru, southern India. Methods We included 350 women above the age of 18 years with a confirmed pregnancy of less than 24 weeks and having no obstetric complication. We used the Conflict Tactics Scale to determine the presence of IPV. The risk factors measured were—individual level: respondent’s age, education, occupation, gravidity, planned or unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse, presence of depression and anxiety; partner-related: spouse’s education, occupation and marital discord; household/community-related: socioeconomic status, social support, religion and consanguinity. Results The prevalence of IPV was 3.7%. Factors that were significantly associated on multivariate analysis were higher age (above 20 years) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.82 [1.12–2.97], p=0.016) and presence of depression (AOR 6.84 [1.76–26.61], p=0.005). Conclusion The prevalence of IPV was less in our study population compared to figures reported from other Indian study settings.

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Undermining Transgender Survivors

Transgender Intimate Partner Violence ◽

10.18574/nyu/9781479830428.003.0003 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 62-88

Author(s):

Amanda Koontz

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Social Context ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Identity Work ◽

Transgender People ◽

Transgender Identity ◽

Gender Binary ◽

The Social ◽

Almost All

This chapter examines the theoretical underpinnings as to how transgender people experience intimate partner violence, in a social context dominated by romantic love ideals and the gender binary. It examines how abusers manipulate transgender-specific insecurities and discredit identities through controlling gender transitions and other aspects of transgender identity construction. The processes of identity work—that is, constructing oneself as an image in relation to one's self-concept and perceptions of others’ reactions—influence almost all realms of life. Given the social context and distinct experiences corresponding with transitions, this chapter explores transgender peoples’ identity work as a potential site for identity abuse, identifying two altercasting strategies of retroverting (reinforcing past, undesired identities) and maneuverting (making desired identities unachievable by holding idealized traits and props over victims). In so doing, this chapter also considers ways in which discrediting identity work offers insight into “why victims stay” in abusive relationships within the context of transgender intimate partner violence.

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