Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence in the First 6 Months Following HIV Diagnosis Among a Population-Based Sample in Rural Uganda

Ijeoma Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya, Rhoda K. Wanyenze, Elizabeth Reed, Jay G. Silverman, Susan M. Kiene

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research in Uganda examining HIV-positive status disclosure and IPV victimization is scarce, and existing findings may not generalize to community-based samples of men and women newly diagnosed with HIV in Uganda. We investigated the prevalence of lifetime IPV, IPV experienced between HIV diagnosis and 6 months following diagnosis (recent IPV), and IPV specifically related to a partner learning one’s HIV-positive status among a sample of men and women newly diagnosed with HIV in a population-based study in rural Uganda. We also examined correlates of recent IPV, including HIV-positive status disclosure. The sample included 337 participants followed for 6 months after HIV diagnosis. Lifetime IPV findings showed that over half of the sample reported experiencing emotional IPV (62.81% of men, 70.37% of women), followed by physical IPV (21.49% of men, 26.39% of women) then sexual IPV (7.44% of men, 17.59% of women). For recent IPV, men and women reported similar rates of physical (4.63% and 8.29%, respectively) and emotional (19.44% and 25.91%, respectively) IPV. Women were more likely than men to report recent sexual IPV (8.29% vs. 1.85%); however, this relationship was no longer significant after controlling for other risk factors associated with sexual IPV (AOR = 3.47, 95% CI [0.65, 18.42]). Participants who disclosed their HIV-positive status to their partner had 59% lower odds of reporting emotional IPV (AOR = 0.41, 95% CI [0.21, 0.81]) than participants who did not disclose their HIV-positive status. Younger age, non-polygamous marriage, lower social support, and greater acceptance for violence against women were also significantly associated with experience of recent IPV. Overall, 12.20% of participants who experienced recent IPV reported that the IPV was related to their partner learning their HIV-positive status. Findings highlight the need for IPV screening and intervention integrated into HIV diagnosis, care, and treatment services.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1252-1265
Number of pages14
JournalAIDS and Behavior
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2020

Keywords

  • Domestic violence
  • Gender-based violence
  • HIV
  • HIV-status disclosure
  • Intimate partner violence
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Uganda

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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