Health Care Service Readiness and Quality of Care for Sexual Violence in Garissa, Kwale, Narok, and West Pokot Counties, Kenya: A Mixed-Methods Study

Glob Health Sci Pract. 2026 Jun 24. doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-24-00344. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The health care system is a critical entry point for sexual violence response including care and linkages to auxiliary services. However, detailed data on quality and readiness of facility-based sexual violence care in African settings is sparse, hindering measurement and improvements.

METHODS: We report results from the first wave of longitudinal mixed-methods study conducted between July and September 2022 to assess readiness and quality of sexual violence services in 4 counties in Kenya supported by the Accelerate program. Health facility assessments were conducted within all (N=123) program-supported facilities in the 4 counties, including provider interviews; visual inspection and audit of essential infrastructure and commodities; and chart abstraction. We computed descriptive data summaries, and in-depth interviews from 40 purposively selected providers were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS: Of 123 study facilities, 54% had a provider who received GBV in-service training in the past 12 months. Most facilities (85%) routinely offered GBV care. Of facilities offering GBV care, most stocked antibiotic for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (71%), any emergency contraception pill (ECP) option (88%), and tetanus vaccine (93%), and most provided GBV counseling (90%). However, availability of hepatitis B vaccine was low across facility tiers (14%-25%). Dispensaries/clinics documented low availability of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for children and adults (20% and 47%, respectively), SGBV register (20%), and post-rape care forms (27%). Of 285 abstracted charts, most were in hospitals (62%) and for survivors under 18 years (69%). Just 59% of survivors presented promptly, within 3 days, for health care services. Of survivors who were eligible for care, a considerable proportion missed psychosocial assessment (32%), PEP for HIV (22%), ECP (17%), and treatment for bacterial STIs (15%). Qualitative data revealed service delivery gaps driven by disruptions in supplies and provider capacity gaps. Many providers indicated concerns in the chain of evidence due to gaps in documentation and logistical support for health care providers when providing legal testimony in courts.

CONCLUSIONS: Readiness to provide a minimum care package for sexual violence was low, with steep gradients across facility tiers. Delivery of timely and quality-assured sexual violence care requires addressing structural gaps driven by stock-out of supplies and inadequate providers’ support including training. These corrective actions should be augmented by community-based interventions that link survivors to health care.

PMID:42342557 | DOI:10.9745/GHSP-D-24-00344