Socio-demographic determinants influencing health seeking behavior by men experiencing intimate partner violence in Kisumu municipality informal settlements, Kenya

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Socio demographic characteristics are key factors in the health seeking by men experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). A recent study in Kenya showed that 9% of men experience spousal violence with no reports showing their health seeking behavior. This study assessed the socio-demographic determinants on health seeking by men experiencing IPV in Kisumu municipality informal settlements.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From a target population of 81,882 adult males, 438 adult males aged 18 to 54 years were included in the study from Kisumu municipality informal settlements. Questionnaires were administered to the study participants. Frequency tables expressed as counts and corresponding percentages; chi square test and multiple regression analysis were used in the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>With 398 responding to the survey, there was 90.8% response rate.<strong> </strong>Findings showed that 72.4% of the respondents have experienced IPV, out of whom only 19.8% sought health services. Results of socio-demographic characteristics showed that married wage-earning men of ages 18-35 years with secondary and above level of education sought health services when experiencing IPV.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study established that health seeking in men when experiencing IPV is low despite the fact that it could be life-threatening. Interventions are thus required that would help address men’s cases when faced with any form of violence.</p>