NAIROBI, Kenya – More than half of Kenya’s adult population has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime, with women disproportionately affected due to gender-based violence, new research by the Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) shows.
The study’s preliminary findings reveal that 61% of women report lifetime PTSD, compared to 39% of men. Overall, 55% of adults reported having suffered PTSD at some point in their lives, while 21% showed symptoms of PTSD within the past month.
Speaking during the dissemination of the findings at the Aga Khan University Hospital Auditorium, Professor Lukoye Awoli, Deputy Director at BMI, said women face a higher risk due to widespread sexual and domestic violence.
“Women are more likely to get post-traumatic stress disorder. When it comes to sexual violence, the risks of trauma are extremely high. In our environment, women are still exposed to huge risks of sexual violence,” Awoli said.
He noted that while PTSD can stem from many traumatic experiences—including accidents, the loss of loved ones, and physical assaults—gender-based violence remains the leading driver of the disorder among women in Kenya.
“After physical assault, the risk is lower compared to sexual assault, but it is still present,” he added, pointing to high levels of intimate partner violence in Kenyan households.
Dr. Mercy Karanja, head of the Mental Health Division at the Ministry of Health, welcomed the research as critical in shaping mental health policy.
“We are currently in the process of undertaking the first-ever national baseline mental health survey. With more data, we will be able to formulate policies and interventions tailored to the Kenyan context,” she said.
Karanja emphasized the importance of Kenya conducting its own research to design locally relevant solutions rather than relying on imported approaches.
The findings highlight the urgent need for policies addressing trauma and gender-based violence, as well as increased investment in mental health services to support survivors of violence and other traumatic experiences.