Top

Published in:

01-11-2009 | Original Article

Intimate partner violence and correlates in pregnant HIV positive Nigerians

Authors: Oliver Chukwujekwu Ezechi, Chidinma Gab-Okafor, Dan I. Onwujekwe, Rosemary A. Adu, Eva Amadi, Ebiere Herbertson

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 5/2009

Abstract

Objective

To determine the prevalence, types and correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV) in pregnant Nigerian living with HIV.

Design

Cross sectional study.

Population

HIV positive pregnant women.

Setting

A large HIV comprehensive treatment centre.

Methods

A cross sectional study of 652 HIV positive pregnant Nigerians seen at Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria over a 24 months period.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of intimate partner violence after HIV diagnosis.

Results

Among the women interviewed, 423 (65.8%) reported abuse. In 74.0% of abused women, the abuse started after HIV diagnosis. Though having a HIV negative spouse and disclosure of HIV status were associated with abuse, only having a HIV negative partner retained its association with IPV (OR 3.1; CI 2.4–5.3) after controlling for confounding variables. Sixty-two (9.6%) women have not disclosed their HIV status because of fear of rejection. Verbal abuse (51.7%), threat of violence in 97 (22.9%) and sexual deprivation in 91 (21.5%) were the common forms of abuse reported.

Conclusion

IPV is common among HIV positive pregnant Nigerians; with a threefold increased risk in women in HIV serodiscordant relationship.

WHO/WHD world report on violence (1997) Geneva, World Health Organisation

Kaye DK, Mirembe FM, Bantebya G, Johansson A, Ekstrom AM (2006) Domestic violence as a risk factor for unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Trop Med Int Health 11:90–101. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2005.01531.x PubMedCrossRef

Leung SJ, Tesoriero JM, Klein SJ, Heavner KK, Battles HB, Nemeth C, Birkhead GS (2005) Intimate partner violence and HIV testing history among high risk individuals (abstract no. Wo-A1602). National HIV prevention conference Atlanta, Georgia, June 12–15

Ezechi OC, Kalu BKE, Ezechi LO, Nwokoro CA, Ndububa VI, Okeke GCE (2004) Prevalence and pattern of domestic violence against pregnant Nigerian women. J Obstet Gynaecol 24(6):652–656. doi:10.1080/01443610400007901 PubMedCrossRef

Heise L, Ellsberg M, Gottmoeller M (1999) Ending violence against women. Population report, series L, No. 11. Population Information Program, Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, 111 Market Place, Suite 310, Baltimore, Maryland 21202–4012, USA

Koenig MA, Lutalo T, Zhao F, Nalugoda F, Wabire-Mangen F, Kiwanuka N, Wagman J, Serwadda D, Wawer M, Gray R (2003) Domestic violence in rural Uganda: evidence from a community based study. Bull World Health Organ 81:53–60PubMed

WHO: WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence (WHO/FCH/GWH/02.01)

Heise L, Ellsberg M, Gottmoeller M (1999) Ending violence against women. Population report series L No. 11. Population Information Program, Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 111 Market Place, Suite 310, Baltimore, Maryland 21202–4012, USA

10.

Karamagi CAS, Tumwine JK, Tylleskar T, Heggenhougen K (2006) Intimate Partner Violence against women in eastern Uganda: Implications for HIV Prevention. BMC Public Health 6:284–288. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-284 PubMedCrossRef

11.

Ellsberg MC, Rena R, Herrera A, Liljestrand J, Winkvist A (1999) Wife abuse among women of childbearing age in Nicaragua. Am J Public Health 89:241–244. doi:10.2105/AJPH.89.2.241 PubMedCrossRef

12.

Suzanne M, Mbwambo JK, Hogan NM, Kilonzo GP, Campbell JC, Weiss E, Sweat MD (2002) HIV positive women report more life time partner violence: findings from a voluntary counseling and testing clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Am J Public Health 92:1331–1337. doi:10.2105/AJPH.92.8.1331 CrossRef

13.

Rao V (1997) Wife beating in rural South India: a qualitative and econometric analysis. Soc Sci Med 44:1169–1180. doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(96)00252-3 PubMedCrossRef

14.

Maman S, Campbell J et al (2000) The intersections of HIV and violence: directions for future research and investigations. Soc Sci Med 50:459–478PubMedCrossRef

15.

Ward J (2002) If not now? Addressing gender-based violence in refugee, internally displaced and post-conflict settings, Reproductive Health for Refugees consortium, Washington DC, http://www.rhrc.org/resources/gbv/ifnotnow.html

16.

Dunkle KL, Jewkes RK, Brown HC, Gray GE, McIntryre JA, Harlow SD (2004) Gender-based violence, relationship power, and risk of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics in South Africa. Lancet 363:1415–1421. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16098-4 PubMedCrossRef

17.

Gielen AC, McDonnell KA, Burke JG, O’Campo P (2000) Women’s lives after an HIV-positive diagnosis: disclosure and violence. Matern Child Health J 4(2):111–120. doi:10.1023/A:1009522321240 PubMedCrossRef

18.

Kiarie JN, Farquhar C, Richardson BA, Kabura BN, John FN, Nduati RW, John-Stewart GC (2006) Domestic violence and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1. AIDS 20:1763–1769. doi:10.1097/01.aids.0000242823.51754.0c PubMedCrossRef

19.

Temmerman M, Ndinya-Achola J, Ambani J, Piot P (1995) The right not to know HIV-test results. Lancet 345:969–970. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(95)90707-6 PubMedCrossRef

20.

World Health Organization (WHO) (2003) Gender dimensions of HIV status disclosure to sexual partners: rates, barriers and outcomes: a review paper. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

21.

Gaillard P, Melis R, Mwanyumba F, Claeys P, Muigai E, Mandaliya K et al (2002) Vulnerability of women in an African setting: lessons for mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention programmes. AIDS 16:937–939. doi:10.1097/00002030-200204120-00019 PubMedCrossRef

22.

Yacouba N, Nicolas M, Valeraine L, Laurent M, Seydou Y, Issiaka S et al (2001) Sexual and reproductive life of women informed of their HIV seropositivity: a prospective cohort study in Burkina Faso. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 28:367–372

23.

Kissinger PJ, Niccolai LM, Magnus M, Farley TA, Maher JE, Richardson-Alston G et al (2003) Partner notification for HIV and syphilis: effects on sexual behaviors and relationship stability. Sex Transm Dis 30:75–82. doi:10.1097/00007435-200301000-00015 PubMedCrossRef

24.

Antelman G, Fawzi MCS, Kaaya S, Mbwambo J, Msamanga GI, Hunter DJ, Fawzi WW (2001) Predictors of HIV–1 serostatus disclosure: a prospective study among HIV-infected pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. AIDS 15:1865–1874. doi:10.1097/00002030-200109280-00017 PubMedCrossRef

25.

Maman S, Mbwambo JK, Hogan NM, Kilonzo GP, Campbell JC, Weiss E, Sweat MD (2002) HIV-positive women report more lifetime partner violence: findings from a voluntary counseling and testing clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Am J Public Health 92:1331–1337. doi:10.2105/AJPH.92.8.1331 PubMedCrossRef

26.

Multhal-Rathore A, Tripathi R, Arora R (2002) Domestic violence against pregnant women interviewed at a hospital in New Delhi. IJGO 76(1):83–85

27.

Stewart DE, Cecutti A (1993) Physical abuse in pregnancy. Can Med Assoc J 149:1257–1263

28.

Kiarie JN, Farquhur C, Richardson BA, Kabura MN, John FN, Nduati RW, John-Stewart GC (2006) Domestic violence and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV-1. AIDS 20:1763–1769. doi:10.1097/01.aids.0000242823.51754.0c PubMedCrossRef

29.

Maman S, Mbwambo JK, Hogan NM, Kilonzo GP, Campbell JC, Weiss E, Sweat MD (2002) HIV positive women report more lifetime partner violence: findings from VCT clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Am J Public Health 92:1331–1337. doi:10.2105/AJPH.92.8.1331 PubMedCrossRef

30.

Dunkie KL, Jewkes RK, Brown HC, Gray GE, McIntryre JA, Harlow SD (2004) Gender based violence, relationship power, and risk of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics in South Africa. Lancet 363:1415–1421. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16098-4 CrossRef

31.

Defeu I, Van Renterghem H, De Vuyst H, Fleerackers Y, Peters R, Colebunders R (1994) Consequences of telling one’s seropositivity to others. Abstract PD 224. Presented at International Conference on AIDS, Yokohama, Japan

32.

Zierler S, Cunningham WE, Anderson R, Shapiro MF, Nakazono T, Morton S, Crystal S, Stein M, Turner B, St Clair P (2000) Bozzette. Violence victimization after HIV infection in a US probability sample of adult patients in primary care. Am J Public Health 90:208–215. doi:10.2105/AJPH.90.2.208 PubMedCrossRef

33.

Olusanya O, Okpere E, Ezimokhai M (1985) The importance of social class in voluntary fertility control in a developing country. West Afr J Med 4:205–215

Title: Intimate partner violence and correlates in pregnant HIV positive Nigerians
Authors: Oliver Chukwujekwu Ezechi
Chidinma Gab-Okafor
Dan I. Onwujekwe
Rosemary A. Adu
Eva Amadi
Ebiere Herbertson
Publication date: 01-11-2009
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 5/2009
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-009-0956-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Intimate partner violence and correlates in pregnant HIV positive Nigerians

Abstract

Objective

Design

Population

Setting

Methods

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Design

Population

Setting

Methods

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 5/2009

Caffeine in pregnancy

Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound with laparoscopy in the management of patients with adnexal masses

Venous thrombembolism, thrombophilic defects, combined oral contraception and anticoagulation

Actual management of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Melanoma of the vulva: a pigmented lesion is also significant in a non-sun-exposed area

Successful management of live ectopic pregnancy with high β-hCG titres by ultrasound-guided potassium chloride injection and systemic methotrexate