Violence, Coercion, Trickery and Reproductive Health Outcomes among Nairobi’s Poorest Residents

Megan L. Klein, University of Maryland
F. Nii-Amoo Dodoo, University of Maryland

Cairo's agenda mainstreamed reproductive and social matters including sexual coercion and gendered violence into the population discourse. Yet, inadequate attention has been paid to the linkages between violence, coercion, trickery, and forced sex and reproductive health. This paper assesses associations between these variables and reports of STIs and mistimed pregnancies among females aged 12-24 years in Nairobi's slums. Our data come from the 2000 Nairobi Cross-Sectional Slum Survey, a representative survey of Nairobi slums. Logistic regressions reveal females who report partner violence are more likely than others to report STIs in the past year, net of controls. Tricked/forced first sexual encounters likewise elevate the odds of mistimed pregnancies. Those who report partner violence are more likely to report mistimed pregnancies. Our paper fleshes out relational linkages between the variables and suggests future needs in the study of violence, coercion, and force. Violence's significance in reproductive health outcomes merits further attention.