Association between HIV Perceived Risk and Intimate Partner Violence among Women / Asociación entre Percepción de Riesgo de VIH y Violencia de Pareja en Mujeres

Abstract HIV risk perception and Intimate partner violence (IPV) are related to HIV infection in women. However, there is a lack of information regarding on the association between risk perception and IPV in the Mexican population. This study aimed to identify and characterize subgroups based on their risk perception through the analysis of latent classes and to evaluate the variables associated with HIV risk perception. An online survey was conducted to assess sexual and preventive behavior, HIV risk perception, and intimate partner violence. Three hundred thirty-two women participated; the sampling was for convenience. Two latent classes were identified: a group with risk perception (85%) and one without risk perception (14.6%). The variables associated with the risk perception were a sexual attraction to men, not having a stable partner, perceiving oneself as at risk of acquiring HIV due to sexual behavior, and the presence of IPV. HIV prevention programs for women must address the stigmas related to HIV, such as the idea that the risk only occurs when they have multiple sexual partners, promote accurate HIV risk perception and prevent IPV in all its expressions and contexts.

Resumen En mujeres, la violencia de pareja está relacionada a una mayor probabilidad de adquirir la infección por VIH. De igual forma, una inadecuada percepción de riesgo de adquirir el virus coloca a las mujeres en una situación vulnerable. Existe una falta de información ente la asociación de la VPI y la percepción de riesgo es mujeres mexicanas. Este estudio persiguió dos objetivos: el primero fue identificar y caracterizar subgrupos en función de su percepción de riesgo a través del análisis de clases latentes; el segundo objetivo consistió en evaluar las variables asociadas con la percepción de riesgo de VIH. Se realizó una encuesta en línea para evaluar el comportamiento sexual y preventivo, la percepción del riesgo de VIH y la VP. Participaron 332 mujeres; el muestreo fue por conveniencia. Se identificaron dos clases latentes: un grupo con percepción de riesgo (85%) y otro sin percepción de riesgo (14,6%). Las variables asociadas a la percepción de riesgo fueron atracción sexual por hombres, no tener pareja estable, percibirse en riesgo de adquirir el VIH por la conducta sexual y haber sufrido de violencia de pareja en los últimos seis meses. Se concluye que los programas de prevención del VIH para mujeres deben abordar los estigmas relacionados con el VIH, como la idea de que el riesgo solo ocurre cuando tienen múltiples parejas sexuales, promover una percepción precisa del riesgo del VIH y principalmente, prevenir la VP en todas sus expresiones y contextos; así como también dar atención personalizada a mujeres que ya sufren de violencia de pareja.

HIV Knowledge and Risk Behaviours of Junior Staff of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection remains a public health challenge and Nigerian universities are not immune to the effect of the epidemic. Despite the fact that non academic junior staff constitute a significant proportion of the workforce and are at risk due to their lower level of education and socio-economic status, few studies have focused on them. The broad aim of this study is to assess the HIV knowledge, risk perception and behaviours of junior staff of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 700 junior staff of the University of Ibadan. Respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique and completed structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. The quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 17) to generate frequencies and cross tabulations of variables. The mean age of the respondents was 38.89.9 years, 74.6% were males, 76.4% were married and 51.6% had post secondary education. Majority identified blood transfusion 94.4% and sexual intercourse 97.3% as the main routes of transmission. The commonest methods of prevention known were condom use 79.6% and mutual fidelity 89.7%. Respondents aged 20-29 years, the single and those with post-secondary education (P=0.000) had higher HIV related knowledge. Only 10% of the respondents perceived that they were at risk of contracting the disease; 30.3% did not think People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) should continue to work. Fifteen percent reported sexual intercourse with a non-regular partner in the previous 12 months and 30.8% of this group did not use a condom. Workplace health education programmes to reduce HIV risk behaviours and stigmatizing attitudes are recommended.