While overall IPV among women remained unchanged between 2014 and 2022, psychological violence rose, and men reported significant increases in both lifetime and recent IPV, with distinct sex-specific patterns in associated factors underscoring the need for sex-responsive and inclusive IPV prevention strategies.
Key Findings
Results
Lifetime prevalence of any IPV among females was stable between 2014 and 2022.
Lifetime prevalence of any IPV among females was 47.1% in 2014 versus 46.3% in 2022 (OR = 1.09, 95% CI [0.98, 1.22]).
Past-year IPV among females also remained stable: 32.6% in 2014 versus 31.1% in 2022 (OR = 1.05, 95% CI [0.94, 1.18]).
Both confidence intervals cross 1.0, indicating no statistically significant change.
Data were drawn from the 2014 and 2022 Kenyan Demographic Health Surveys (nationally representative samples).
Results
Psychological IPV among women increased modestly between 2014 and 2022.
Lifetime psychological IPV among women increased with OR = 1.31 (95% CI [1.17, 1.47]).
Past-12-month psychological IPV among women also increased: OR = 1.18 (95% CI [1.04, 1.34]).
Both confidence intervals exclude 1.0, indicating statistically significant increases.
This increase occurred despite overall any-IPV prevalence remaining stable.
Results
Lifetime prevalence of any IPV among males increased significantly from 2014 to 2022.
Lifetime prevalence of any IPV among males rose from 23.4% in 2014 to 29.7% in 2022 (OR = 1.78, 95% CI [1.50, 2.12]).
Past-12-month any IPV among males also increased significantly (OR = 1.38, 95% CI [1.14, 1.66]).
The magnitude of increase for males was substantially larger than any changes observed for females.
Results
Psychological IPV and sexual IPV among males both increased significantly between 2014 and 2022.
Lifetime psychological IPV among males increased from 20.4% to 26.5% (OR = 1.77, 95% CI [1.48, 2.12]).
Past-12-month psychological IPV among males increased (OR = 1.43, 95% CI [1.18, 1.73]).
Lifetime sexual IPV among males increased from 3.8% to 4.9% (OR = 1.68, 95% CI [1.16, 2.45]).
Results
Co-occurrence of multiple forms of IPV was reported by a minority of respondents and remained relatively stable between 2014 and 2022.
Lifetime co-occurrence of three forms of IPV was reported at 8.5% versus 7.9% in women (2014 vs. 2022).
Lifetime co-occurrence of three forms of IPV was reported at 1.4% versus 1.1% in men (2014 vs. 2022).
Co-occurrence was substantially higher among women than among men in both survey years.
Results
Older age, witnessing father beat mother, and perpetration of physical violence were associated with higher odds of IPV across both sexes.
These associations were identified using logistic regression analysis stratified by sex.
The association with witnessing parental violence ('father beat mother') suggests an intergenerational transmission pattern.
Perpetration of physical violence was also associated with higher odds of IPV victimization across both sexes.
Results
Higher education was associated with lower odds of IPV among women but higher odds of IPV among men.
This finding represents a distinct sex-specific pattern in correlates of IPV.
The association was identified through logistic regression analysis stratified by sex.
The divergent direction of the education-IPV association by sex underscores the need for sex-responsive prevention strategies.
The authors note that 'distinct sex-specific patterns in associated factors underscore the need for sex-responsive and inclusive IPV prevention strategies.'
Methods
The study used secondary data from the 2014 and 2022 Kenyan Demographic Health Surveys with logistic regression to estimate changes in IPV.
Nationally representative survey data from Kenya were used for both time points.
Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate changes in IPV and associations with explanatory factors.
Analyses were stratified by sex to capture sex-specific patterns.
Outcomes examined included lifetime IPV and past-12-month IPV across multiple forms (physical, psychological, sexual).
What This Means
This research suggests that intimate partner violence (IPV) in Kenya showed different patterns for women and men between 2014 and 2022. For women, the overall rate of IPV stayed roughly the same — about 47% reported lifetime IPV in both years — but psychological abuse specifically increased. For men, the picture was more concerning: the proportion reporting lifetime IPV rose from about 23% to nearly 30%, and recent (past-year) IPV also increased significantly. Sexual violence against men also increased, though it remained relatively uncommon compared to other forms.
The research also found that certain factors were linked to higher IPV risk for both women and men, including older age, having witnessed their father beat their mother as a child, and having perpetrated physical violence themselves. Notably, higher education appeared to be protective for women (linked to lower IPV odds) but was associated with higher IPV odds among men — a finding that highlights the importance of considering gender when designing prevention programs. The co-occurrence of multiple types of IPV at the same time was more common among women than men, though it remained a relatively small proportion in both groups.
This research suggests that IPV prevention efforts in Kenya need to account for the different experiences and risk factors of men and women rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. The increase in psychological abuse among women, and the broader increases among men, indicate that violence affecting men may be underrecognized. The link between witnessing parental violence and later IPV involvement also points to the potential value of interventions that address cycles of violence across generations.
A. Abio, Mahsa MohammadNamdar, Omid Dadras, Michael Lowery Wilson, J. Waila. (2026). Sex-Specific Changes and Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence in Kenya: Analyses of Nationally Representative Surveys From 2014 and 2022.. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605261444013