Stories From Three Cities in Africa On Dealing With Intimate Partner Violence ( IPV)

When planning interventions targeting KP, one has to have in mind the need to address effects of latency that arise due to either disownment by parents or a history of being subjected to traumatic abuses. KP, are prone to have trauma comorbidities.

In an article "From Frying Pan To Fire: African Key Populations (KP) In A Dilemma When Provider Bias Stands In The way To Reporting IPV abuse; A Case Of Three African Cities," Muyunga-Mukasa (2019), makes many insightful findings in Kampala, Mbarara and Nairobi that inform KP-targeting Programmatic Interventions. In the article, he argues that the contexts within which KP grow, develop, socialize and actualize have profound influence on how they turn out in life, how they go into and maintain relationships. In the article, he points out the role of seeking social services to improve quality of life and the role of Providers as decision support catalysts. The environment has a profound influence on emotional growth which in turn affects the way a person engages in problem-posing and solving skills. Providers empowered with cultural sensitivity trainings are more likely to motivate KP to take demand, take up and be retained in service delivery continuum. KP empowered to engage in fully experiencing life in their communities, thrive well and achieve quality life goals. They are able to explore meaning out of life. This opens many ways to understand people before  and if they identify a partner they have pointers to committing to long term relationships. 

Reading about or seeking relationship counseling is an important best practice. Age and status are crucial in understanding IPV. Identifying and measuring IPV makes it easier to provide interventions against its perpetration. Definitions or claims of being well off, should factor in attributes other than monetary or material. Emotional, biological and social services are as equally important a consideration. Finance and fidelity counseling services are an important intervention self esteem of KP is to be sustained. 

Further studies into life-span mentorship and guidance cultures led by KP will throw more light on positive coping skills. KP Providers who are culturally sensitive to KP-related provide quality services. When KP are willing to demand and access social support when in need and have the desire to improve on their lot, it sets in place a role model culture. It is an opportunity for self care, healing and thriving.