Prevalence & Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence in HIV-Positive Women Engaged in Transactional Sex in Mombasa, Kenya

We evaluated the prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence in the past year by a regular male partner in HIV-positive female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya. 

This cross-sectional study included HIV-positive women ≥18 years old who reported engagement in transactional sex at the time of enrolment in the parent cohort. We asked 13 questions adapted from the World Health Organization survey on violence against women about physical, sexual, or emotional violence in the past year by the current or most recent emotional partner (index partner). 

We used standardised instruments to assess socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics as possible correlates of intimate partner violence. Associations between intimate partner violence and these correlates were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. 

Overall, 286/357 women (80.4%) had an index partner, and 52/357 (14.6%) reported intimate partner violence by that partner in the past year. In multivariate analysis, women with severe alcohol problems and those experiencing controlling behaviours by the index partner  were significantly more likely to report recent intimate partner violence. Recent intimate partner violence was common in HIV-positive female sex workers. 

Interventions targeting risk factors for intimate partner violence, including alcohol problems and partner controlling behaviours, could help to reduce recurrent violence and negative health outcomes in this key population.

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By: Wilson KS1, Deya R2, Masese L2, Simoni JM3, Vander Stoep A4, Shafi J5, Jaoko W6, Hughes JP7, McClelland RS8.

• 1Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA ksw@uw.edu.
• 2Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 3Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
• 4Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
• 5Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya Coast Province General Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya.
• 6Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 7Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
• 8Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.  

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