INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN A COHORT OF HIV POSITIVE WOMEN IN NIGERIA

Dr. Okeke O.O.*, Jamda A. M., Maduoma C. and Abegunde O.

ABSTRACT

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and HIV/AIDS are two major issues of public health and social concern that require comprehensive and collaborative interventions. Females who experience both conditions are at risk of health and non-health complications. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and predictors of IPV among female clients attending the HIV clinic in two public hospitals in Nigeria. Methods: The study was a hospital based cross sectional study involving three hundred and forty consenting HIV seropositive females aged 15years and above. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socioeconomic and family characteristics of the respondents as well as the experiences of IPV by the respondents. Data was entered into MS excel spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS-21 software package. Prevalence and pattern of IPV experienced was documented using percentages and the association between other variables and IPV was expressed using chi-square statistics. Predictors of IPV were determined by logistic regression and P-value was assumed to be significant at ≤0.05. Results: The mean age and standard deviation was 31.5 ± 7.04years. The prevalence of IPV was 83.5% (284). Controlling behaviour (84.6%) was the most common type of IPV experienced by the respondents followed by psychological IPV (59.8%), physical IPV (41.4%) and sexual IPV (23.1%) respectively. Following logistic regression analysis, predictors of IPV included place of residence, (Odds ratio=2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-7.2; p=0.030), alcohol use in the respondent (Odds ratio=7.1, 95% CI: 2.0-25.6; p=0.003), and alcohol use in her partner (Odds ratio=5.3; 95% CI: 1.9-14.5; p=0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of IPV amongst females living with HIV/AIDS is high. This high prevalence is more prominent in females who take alcohol and those whose partners take alcohol too. Thus, routine HIV services should include screening for IPV and alcohol use among female clients in order to reduce the risk of IPV amongst this vulnerable group.

Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), HIV/AIDS, Females.