Effects of Sexual Violence on Girls’ and Women’s Well-Being in Meru District Council

Abstract

This study examined the effects of sexual violence on girls’ and women’s wellbeing. It was conducted at Meru District Council. It used a sample size of 154 girls and women obtained by using simple random sampling technique. Cross-sectional research design was used in which quantitative data were collected. They were collected using questionnaire with a Likert Scale where statement(s) like highest, high, average, low and very low were used to show the level of sexual violence effects to the respondent(s). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics in which frequencies and percentages were produced with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) ver.20. The study found that sexual transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies are the most sexual violence effects to women and girls.  This paper concludes that sexual transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies are the most sexual violence effects noticed in the study area at the rate of 81.8% and 78.5% respectively. These effects affect the well-being of girls and women which encompasses various aspects of their lives, including physical health, mental and emotional well-being, social connections, and access to opportunities. It is recommended that community, civil society organizations and the government should play their vital role to ensure sexual violence practices in the study area are reduced and eventually completely abolished.