Background: Marital abuse remains a persistent and underreported issue globally, particularly within faith-based contexts where religious beliefs may profoundly shape women’s responses to violence. In the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, little is known about how specific Christian teachings influence women’s decisions to remain in abusive marriages. Objectives: This study aimed (1) to examine the prevalence of marital abuse among married Catholic women; and (2) to assess how religious beliefs and practices influence women’s decisions to remain in abusive relationships. Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 182 married Catholic women using structured questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews with a purposive subsample. Standardized tools and thematic guides were used. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests (including t-tests and p-values), while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: The prevalence of reported marital abuse was high, with emotional, physical, and economic abuse commonly experienced. Statistically significant beliefs associated with remaining in abusive marriages included belief in female submission (M = 3.41, SD = 1.32, p < .001), priestly advice over professional help (M = 3.67, SD = 1.27, p < .001), and reverence for saints as marital role models (M = 3.73, SD = 1.23, p < .001). Many women internalized suffering as spiritual devotion and feared that leaving would contradict their faith. However, beliefs such as “abuse as divine punishment” were strongly rejected (M = 2.21, SD = 1.37, p < .001). Conclusion: Religious beliefs play a complex and powerful role in shaping Catholic women’s responses to marital abuse. These findings call for faith-sensitive pastoral counseling, church-based awareness programs, and collaboration between clergy and mental health professionals to create safe spaces for victims while honoring their spiritual values.
Gitao et al. (Wed,) studied this question.