Intimate partner violence and human immunodeficiency virus infection among married women in Addis Ababa

ABSTRACT

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus is a public health problem in sub-Saharan countries, with complex determinant factors. Intimate partner violence, although known to associate with acquiring human immunodeficiency virus understanding how it relates to sexual risk behaviors is important.Objective: To assess the relationship of human immunodeficiency virus with intimate partner violence as related to risky-sexual behaviors.Methods: A facility based case control study was conducted among human immunodeficiency virus positive and negative women visiting antenatal care. A total of 128 positive and 382 negative women from the prevention service of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus in selected health facilities in Addis Ababa were included. A standardized and pretested questionnaire was used to assess the experience of intimate partner violence, and sexual behaviors of women and their spouses.Result: Physical violence during lifetime is associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection status. Besides, sexual violence by strangers is associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Risky sexual behaviors, represented by having multiple partners, transactional sex and having a casual partner, were associated with intimate partner violence as well as human immunodeficiency virus infection status. Similarly, report of experiencing symptoms of sexually transmitted infection and having suspected unfaithful spouse were associated with intimate partner violence and human immunodeficiency virus infection status.Conclusion: The study showed that intimate partner violence could be associated directly and in directly with human immunodeficiency virus infection by increasing exposure to risky sexual behaviors and considered as a resolution for disparate sexual behavioral. Therefore, prevention and control interventions against intimate partner violence could play significant role in prevention and control of human immunodeficiency virus infection