An Exploratory Study of Prevalence and Patterns of Sexual Violence in a Nationally Representative Sample in Kuwait

Background: This pioneer study explored the lifelong prevalence and patterns of sexual violence in a large nationally representative sample in Kuwait for the first time. Despite of sparse, fractured, and “shy” reports about the subject in a conservative culture that is accustomed to suppressing and deny the existence of this crucial problem, there are evidence that sexual violence does exist and needed to be quantified, revealed, and dealt with to minimize its multifaceted consequences in the future. Hence the necessity to examine the different vulnerabilities to victimization that can be used to design preventive measures and policy guidelines tailored to the Kuwait context is warranted.

Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey design to explore the lifetime prevalence of sexual victimization as a dependent variable and sociodemographic characteristics as independent factors. A nonprobability voluntary response sample of 5029 participants completed a paper survey in Arabic. Most of the participants were Kuwaiti nationals (90.2%), Muslim Sunni (85.3%), live with their families (51.7%), were employees (59.8%) or students (29.8%), with an average monthly income of (668 KD @2170 $), married (46.2%), (69.9%) had over 12 years of education (college and above), and (69.8%) had tribal cultural background. The survey was developed by the researcher after thorough review of related literature, and careful consideration for cultural sensitivity in wording related to Kuwaiti culture. It covers sociodemographic information, the experiences of sexual violence, and the main reactions of victims for support and help. Statistical analyses were conducted using Jamovi 1.8, sociodemographic characteristics and study variables were described using frequencies, percentages, means and SD, and Pearson's Chi-squared test and Linear Model ANOVA were used to compare different participants according to the sociodemographic characteristics, and lastly, binary logistic regression was used to quantify the predicting associations between sociodemographic characteristics and SV.

Results: The prevalence of experiencing sexual violence at least once in a lifetime was 32.7%, there was significant associations between SV and nationality, governorate, monthly income, employment status, social status, education level, religion, cultural background, and gender. Most incidents of SV occurred inside a public place (36.3%), usually the abuser was of the opposite sex (51.9%), older (68.9%), and a stranger to the victim (54.6%). Turning to family members was the preferred action for victims (58%), while (24.5%) chose to keep silent and never asked for help. Result of the logistic regression shows that unemployed, female, single or divorced, with urban cultural background, who live in Jahra governate have greater odds of experiencing SV.