Prevalence and Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence in HIV-Seropositive Women in Serodiscordant Relationships

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV), is behavior within an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual, or emotional harm. It is the most common form of gender based violence (GBV) and is a major public health problem, with a global and African prevalence of 30% and 37%, respectively. This was a cross-sectional analysis that enrolled HIV-seropositive women in serodiscordant relationships who were at least 18 years of age and provided a written informed consent to participate in the study. Participants were asked 13 questions adapted from the World Health Organization survey on violence against women about physical, sexual, or emotional violence in the past year, by the current partner. Correlates of IPV were assessed using standardized instruments. To estimate the association between correlates and past year IPV, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used. Overall, 47/159 (29.6%, 95% CI 22.9-37.2%) reported experiencing IPV in the past year. In the multivariate analysis, pregnancy (aOR 9.78, 1.98-48.26), male partner controlling behavior (aOR 3.18, 1.44-7.03), past physical violence by someone other than the current partner (aOR 3.78, 1.32-10.78) and alcohol use (minimal aOR 3.78, 1.45- 9.87, moderate/high aOR 1.12, 0.20-6.14), were associated with higher likelihood of reporting IPV in the past year. Programs caring for HIV-positive women in serodiscordant relationships should consider screening these women for IPV. Additionally, the study identified a potential period of risk (pregnancy), an identifiable risk factor (previous violence), and potentially modifiable behaviors of women and their partners (alcohol use and partner controlling behavior) that were associated with a greater likelihood of IPV in the past year.