|
|
Addis Ababa University Libraries Electronic Thesis and Dissertations: AAU-ETD! >
Faculty of Medicine >
Thesis - Public Health >
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/736
|
| Title: | GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND THE RISK OF HIV INFECTION AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE SERVICE AT HIV SENTINEL SURVAILANCE SITES IN ADDIS ABABA |
| Authors: | Workeneh, Demisse |
| Advisors: | Dr. Assefa Seme |
| Copyright: | 2007 |
| Date Added: | 21-Apr-2008 |
| Publisher: | Addis Ababa University |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT
Introduction
In many African countries, sex ratios of new HIV infections are highly skewed
to females because of biological susceptibility and also gender-based violence is
increasingly cited as important determinant of women’s HIV risk; yet empirical
research on possible connections remains limited.
Objective
This research was conducted to measure the prevalence of gender-based
violence, explore the association between gender-based violence and HIV risk
behaviors & HIV infection among women attending antenatal care service in
Addis Ababa.
Methods
A cross–sectional study of 840 women presenting for antenatal care at five
health centers, which are national HIV sentinel surveillance sites in Addis
Ababa, who accepted routine antenatal HIV testing for PMTCT purpose was
conducted between January and March 2007. Private face to face interview
were done in local languages and included assessment of sociodemographic
characteristics, experience of gender based violence, HIV risk behaviors
including multiple and casual male partners, transactional sex, and regular
use of condom by casual male partners and linked to HIV sero status.
Result
About 44% of the total 840 women interviewed reported physical or sexual
violence at some point during their lives and lifetime experience of different
types of intimate partner violence were significantly associated with increased
odds of participation in HIV risk behaviors (having 4 or more male partners in
life time, having sexual intercourse with non primary ever, experience of
transactional sex ever, not regular use of condom with non regular partners,
and substance use with problems). Any lifetime experience of sexual violence
was significantly associated with increased odds of HIV sero positivity, even after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics (educational status,
current non professional employment and relationship with intimate partner)
and HIV risk behaviors, OR=2.95 (1.33, 6.39). Similarly broad IPV was
significantly associated with increased odds of HIV sero positivity after
adjustment of sociodemographic variables and participation in HIV risk
behaviors, OR= 2.68 (1.10, 6.54). Women who reported child sexual assault,
adult sexual assault and forced first intercourse by non-partners reported
higher levels of HIV risk behavior than those who did not; and the later two
were significantly associated with increased odds of HIV sero positivity.
Experience of adult sexual assault by non-partners at age 15 and after is
independently associated with increased odds of HIV sero positivity.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The study result showed us that even though biological susceptibility can make
women at higher risk of HIV infection than men, they are also at increased risk
of acquiring HIV infection because of their violence induced HIV risk behaviors
and from HIV infected abusive male partners. Therefore intervention effort in
HIV prevention need to target male sexual risk taking, condom refusal, and
violent behavior, as well as working towards transformation of broader societal
structures, which support female subordination and hinder women’s socioeconomic Empowerment. |
| Description: | A thesis submitted to
School of graduate studies of Addis Ababa University,
Medical Faculty, Department of Community Health in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Public Health. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/736 |
| Appears in: | Thesis - Public Health
|
Items in the AAUL Digital Library are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
|
