Research on knowledge, attitude, social norms and practice on reproductive health rights and gender-based violence in Narok county, in Kenya

Title Women Empowerment and Environment and Health Support in Kenya

Location  Narok County, Kenya

Duration 36 months

Lead partner We World – G.V.C. Onlus

Partners ARCO, PIN Polo Universitario della Città di Prato, Gruppo per le Relazioni Transculturali – GRT, Community Health Partners – CHP, Anglican Development Services South Rift – ADS

Funding AICS-Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo

 

Context

In Kenya, despite a favourable legal framework that fosters gender equality, serious inequalities between men and women persist, especially in pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in the arid and semi-arid (ASAL) areas of the country.

Narok County, among the ASAL counties, is the one that reports in absolute terms the highest number of cases of Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SBGV), female genital mutilation (MFG) and early pregnancies.

In Narok, the percentage of women between the ages of 15 and 49 who claim to have experienced violence is higher than the national average (35.8%) and stands at 42.46% (i.e. about 200,000 women and girls). Moreover, 51% of women in the same age group (i.e. about 150,000) have been victims of female genital mutilation. 28% (i.e. about 15,000) of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have had at least one pregnancy.

Limited access to information, services, and education exacerbates these issues, leading to adverse health outcomes and social inequalities.

The project “Women Empowerment and Environment and Health Support in Kenya” aims to address these challenges by promoting awareness, enhancing service delivery, and fostering community supportive environment for adolescents and their families.

The project also aims to contribute to the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination (such as forced marriage, early pregnancy, female genital mutilation) and ensuring equitable access to economic and natural resources (access to land) and their management (governance) to create more sustainable and climate-resilient societies.

 

General Objective

The M&E and Impact Unit together with the Inclusive Development unit are conducting a research aimed at assessing the KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices) with a dual objective:

  • to thoroughly understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to violence and gender discrimination in the intervention context,
  • to promote an empowerment process among young people, who, through project activities, become more aware of their sexual and reproductive rights and capable of playing a role as agents of change.

The survey helps to specifically identify the needs of the target population, existing barriers, and gaps in accessing services, as well as the attitudes and factors underlying violent and discriminatory behaviours. Moreover, the survey results provide useful insights for optimising the different community awareness activities aimed at combating gender-based violence and discrimination.

 

Our contribution

The research tools (both qualitative and quantitative) were developed based on the behavioural approach, which posits that behaviours are the result of social norms, individual attitudes and knowledge, and available opportunities.

The qualitative phase was completed during recent data collection in Kenya, where researchers from the two Units conducted several focus group discussions involving adolescents, teachers, pregnant women, and civil society representatives. Interviews were also conducted with ministry officials in the fields of health, justice, and child rights, as well as with religious leaders and the manager of a women’s shelter. One of the key findings from the study highlights the issue of menstrual poverty, which forces many girls to drop out of school prematurely.

As for the quantitative component, the research team, after developing the questionnaire and completing the pilot phase, trained a local team responsible for administering the questionnaire to 635 people, including around 220 students. The questionnaire was translated into Swahili and Maa (the language spoken by the Maasai population).

In the early months of 2025, the research results will be presented to the local population. This will provide an opportunity to engage with local policymakers, raising awareness of the needs of their population and encouraging them to work together with the community to find solutions to address these challenges.

Read more on the M&E and Impact Evaluation Unit and the Inclusive Development Unit