Psychosocial Effects of Rape: A Case of Kilifi North Sub-County, in Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

Rape is a pervasive social problem globally and also one of the most traumatic experiences, causing numerous long-term outcomes on the psychological and social realms of survivors. Kilifi North Sub County has been categorized among the most risky areas for women and children. According to Kenya Police Service cases of rape in the Sub County have been on the increase with 306 cases reported at the Kilifi North Sub-County in 2017. Survivors of rape are exposed to long-term negative outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sexual victimization and suicidality. The purpose of the study was to establish the psychosocial effects of rape, the study was guided by three objectives; to identify the prevalent types of rape in Kilifi North Sub County; to establish the psychosocial effects of rape and; to establish the interventions that may be taken to reduce rape cases and the subsequent effects in Kilifi North Sub County. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised of 163 in which a sample of 30 survivors of rape and 5 respondents from the police officers and trauma counselors working in gender based violence unit and 15selected local community members comprising village elders, religious leaders and youth was drawn through the use of purposive sampling techniques. Primary data was gathered using self-administered questionnaires and face to face interviews in form of interview guide and focused group discussion. Data collected, was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data was analyzed through the use of statistical package for social science (SPSS) to generate quantitative reports through tabulation, percentages, and measure of central tendency. While qualitative data was grouped according to thematic groupings. The findings revealed a prevalence of (53%) children rape and women rape (32%).The psychosocial effects of rape were; trauma (50%), humiliation (20%), and depression (15%). Based on the results the study recommended the intervention responses for rape as; training personnel working in gender based violence units in hospitals and police stations on trauma counseling; survivors of rape need to attend counseling session for prevention of psychosocial effects and Kilifi County to support the awareness campaigns against rape in Kilifi County and its environs. The study also recommended further study should also be undertaken on the perpetrators in order to determine what led to their behavior in order to address the root cause of such behaviors.