A Self-Defense Program Reduces the Incidence of Sexual Assault in Kenyan Adolescent Girls

Sinclair, Jake; Sinclair, Lee; Otieno, Evans; Mulinge, Munyae M.; Kapphahn, Cynthia J.; Golden, Neville H.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.04.008

Cited by 84 publications

(113 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…This study shows that among young, high-risk people in urban informal settlements, sexual violence can be significantly reduced through training. The current study builds on an earlier pilot study 12 and demonstrates that this intervention remained effective across multiple neighborhoods and with almost 2000 adolescents. These findings support the case that the intervention can be applied more broadly in Kenya and beyond.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…12 The primary outcome measure was a reduction in the incidence of sexual assault among the trainees. For this study, sexual assault or rape was defined as "forced or coerced penetration of the mouth, vagina, or anus using a penis, other body part, or an object," and sexual harassment was defined as "unwanted comments, whistles, or gestures with a sexual intent" or "unwanted sexual touching.…”

Section: Empowerment and Self-defense Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A pilot study (n = 381) of this intervention, completed in 2011, demonstrated a decrease in incidence of sexual assault from 24.6% the year before to 9.2% 10 months after the intervention. 12 The current study seeks to determine whether this intervention might be more broadly applicable.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rape Prevention Through Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

Omondi²,

et al. 2014

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sexual assault is a major cause of injury, unplanned pregnancy, HIV infection, and mental health problems worldwide. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, sexual assault has reached epidemic proportions. This study evaluated the efficacy of an empowerment and self-defense intervention for adolescent girls to decrease the incidence of sexual assault and harassment in Nairobi’s large informal settlements. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 1978 adolescents from 4 neighborhoods near Nairobi were taught empowerment, deescalation, and self-defense skills in six 2-hour sessions. The standard-of-care (SOC) group (n = 428) received a life skills class. Self-reported, anonymous survey data were collected at baseline and 10.5 months after intervention. RESULTS: Annual sexual assault rates decreased from 17.9/100 person-years at baseline to 11.1 at follow-up (rate ratio = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–1.86; P < .001); there was no significant change in the SOC group (14.3 to 14.0, rate ratio = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.67–1.57, P = .92). Sexual assault disclosure in the intervention group increased from 56% to 75% (P = .006), compared with a constant incidence of disclosure (53%) in the SOC group. The majority (52.3%) of adolescents in the intervention group reported using skills learned to stop an assault. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention decreased sexual assault rates among adolescent girls in Kenya. The intervention was also associated with an increase in the disclosure of assaults, thereby enabling survivors to seek care and support and possibly leading to the identification and prosecution of perpetrators. This model should be adaptable to other settings both in Africa and globally.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Empowerment and Self-defense Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rape Prevention Through Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

Omondi²,

et al. 2014

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“…For instance, a study in South Africa found that a combined microfinance and health training intervention reduced women’s experience of physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in the past year compared to a control group 50. A novel and practical intervention study in Kenya found that self-defense training significantly reduced the incidence of sexual assault among girls 51. Another study by the Population Council used an asset building framework to create a program where girls could have their own savings account, which fostered self-esteem as well as offer a practical way to save for their future 52.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with psychological distress among young women in Kisumu, Kenya

Gust¹,

Gvetadze²,

Furtado³

et al. 2017

IJWH

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BackgroundAttention to mental health issues is growing globally. In many countries, including Kenya, however, assessment of psychological distress, especially in rural areas, is limited.MethodsWe analyzed data from young women screened for a longitudinal contraceptive ring study in Kisumu, Kenya. Multivariable regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with recent moderate and high psychological distress, as measured by the Kessler (K-6) psychological distress scale.ResultsAmong the 461 women screened, most (58.4%) were categorized as having moderate psychological distress, 20.8% were categorized as having low or no psychological distress, and 20.8% were categorized as having high psychological distress. Moderate psychological distress (vs low/no) was significantly more likely among women who reported a history of forced sex and were concerned about recent food insecurity. High (vs low/no) psychological distress was significantly more likely among women who reported a history of forced sex, who were concerned about recent food insecurity, and who self-reported a sexually transmitted infection.ConclusionTo reduce psychological distress, a focus on prevention as well as care methods is needed. Girls need a path toward a healthy and productive adulthood with a focus on education, which would help them gain skills to avoid forced sex. Women would benefit from easy access to social services and supports that would help them with basic needs like food security among other things. A holistic or ecological approach to services that would address mental, educational, social, health, and economic issues may have the highest chance of having a long-term positive impact on public health.

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“…4 Most women who resist sexual assault do so without any formal self-defense training. A growing body of research suggests, however, that such training can reduce women's risk of victimization (e.g., Brecklin and Ullman 2005; Hollander 2014;Orchowski, Gidycz, and Raffle 2008;Senn, Gee, and Thake 2011;Sinclair et al 2013), as well as increasing their self-confidence and changing gender scripts that prescribe female passivity and vulnerability(Brecklin 2008;Hollander 2004;McCaughey 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructing Victims: The Erasure of Women's Resistance to Sexual Assault

Hollander

Rodgers

2014

Sociological Forum

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How do the news media portray women's resistance to sexual assault? We analyze articles from a systematic sample of 16 U.S. newspapers across 1 full calendar year to assess whether and how newspapers describe women's resistance. We find that in most cases, newspaper reports reinforce the belief that women are incapable of effectively defending themselves. Most articles fail to mention women's resistance or do so only to note its failure; the longer the article, the more likely it is to follow these patterns. Headlines exaggerate these patterns, presenting virtually no evidence that the articles that follow, or that assaults themselves, contain any female resistance or agency. In only a very small minority of cases are women described as strong, competent actors with the ability to defend themselves against violence. We conclude with a discussion of the potential individual and societal consequences of these patterns.

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A Self-Defense Program Reduces the Incidence of Sexual Assault in Kenyan Adolescent Girls

Cited by 84 publications

References 21 publications

Rape Prevention Through Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

Rape Prevention Through Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

Factors associated with psychological distress among young women in Kisumu, Kenya

Constructing Victims: The Erasure of Women's Resistance to Sexual Assault

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