An Analysis of the Use of Facebook to Report Gender Based Violence Cases by Women During the Covid-2020 Pandemic: Case of Kibera Settlement Scheme, Nairobi City County

Abstract

This research sought to analyse the Use of Facebook to report Gender Based Violence Cases by Women during the Covid-2020 pandemic in Kibera Settlement Scheme, Nairobi City County. The study was guided by three specific objectives which are to analyze the content of GBV messages reported via Facebook by women in Kibera, Settlement Scheme, to determine the types of GBV being perpetuated against women on Facebook in Kibera Settlement Scheme and to analyze the accessibility level of Facebook as a channel used by women in Kibera Settlement Scheme to report GBV during Covid-19. The study focused on women and effects of gender-based violence on them, therefore women from the age of 18 years and above years were interviewed. Only active Facebook users were targeted in the study. This study used a descriptive research design. This study used content template as the method of data collection. In addition, semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data from women in Kibera Settlement Scheme. The population for this study was GBV cases uploaded on Facebook groups that contains or encourages violence against women from December 2020 to December 2021, a period of 12 months. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. The GBV cases posted on Facebook was documented according to the key thematic objectives of the study. The key themes were content of Facebook messages shared via Facebook, types of GBV being perpetuated against women on Facebook and accessibility of the Facebook as a channel in reporting GBV by women in Nairobi County. In addition, descriptive statistics comprising the frequencies and percentages were employed to understand the accessibility level of Facebook as a channel used by women in Kibera Settlement Scheme to report GBV. The finding of the study established that GBV was propagated by spouses frequently and it accounted 42.5% of the cases. Facebook reporting only accounted 56.8% of GBV cases and this received 76.8% affirmation from the victims as the right thing to do. The study discovered that 65.9% of GBV cases have been reported on Facebook and this received attention from responsible authorities. Family members and government formed the integral part in helping the GBV victims. The accessibility of using Facebook in fighting GBV is determined by social economic factors such as marital status, age, education attainment, income level and number of children. This was backed by 80.1% of GBV victims with smartphones and 85.1% have valid Facebook accounts. It was affirmed by 58.3% of the victims who used Facebook at least three times a week and 76.3% of them can afford internet connectivity by their own. The study concluded that many of the GBV cases are attributed to spouse conflict. Majority of the GBV cases are reported by victims on Facebook. In addition, increased accessibility to Facebook is fueled by significant number of people owning smart phones and have registered valid Facebook accounts. The study recommends that guidance and counselling of spouses and enhance more sensitization on problem solving to avert crowding out of problems. Social actors, government and human right organization to enhance their presence in Facebook by setting up a reporting center which can deal with GBV cases. Sensitization will provide a roadmap on how GBV ought to be fought and averted before occurrence. There is need for the regulator to formulate a policy that restrict bullying within the social media so as to avoid abuses and negativity that has encouraged social media.