Forms of sexual violence among female survivors at jaramogi oginga odinga teaching and referral hospital, Kenya

Background: Sexual Violence is the most common form of violence against women, with one in three women are victims of sexual violence. High number of female sexual violence survivors seek medical treatment at Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu, Kenya. Yet forms of sexual violence are poorly documented. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out to assess forms of sexual violence among 120 conveniently sampled female sexual violence survivors at GVRC of JOOTRH. Purposive and convenience sampling technique was adopted. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used and data was collected by use of semi structured questionnaires and interview guide. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics using SPSS. Results: The forms of sexual violence experienced by female sexual violence survivors include rape by stranger, rape by familiar person and spousal rape. Others include defilement, sexual slavery, verbal sexual abuse, sexual harassment, attempted rape or attempted forced sodomy or anal rape, drug facilitated sexual violence, denial of the right to use contraception and forced exposure to pornography. Conclusion: This study shows rape as the most common form of sexual violence experienced by the female sexual violence survivors. The study therefore recommends enactment of tough laws through constitutional bodies like parliament in order to deal with sexual violence perpetrators fervently in order to put deterrence to this social menace.