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. 2015;36(2):205-28.
doi: 10.1080/07399332.2014.943840. Epub 2014 Oct 8.

Association between domestic violence and HIV serostatus among married and formerly married women in Kenya

Elijah O Onsomu  1 , Benta A Abuya, Irene N Okech, David L Rosen, Vanessa Duren-Winfield, Amber C Simmons
Affiliations

Association between domestic violence and HIV serostatus among married and formerly married women in Kenya

Elijah O Onsomu et al. Health Care Women Int. 2015.

Abstract

The prevalence of both domestic violence (DV) and HIV among Kenyan women is known to be high, but the relationship between them is unknown. Nationally representative cross-sectional data from married and formerly married (MFM) women responding to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008/2009 were analyzed adjusting for complex survey design. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the covariate-adjusted associations between HIV serostatus and any reported DV as well as four constituent DV measures: physical, emotional, sexual, and aggravated bodily harm, adjusting for covariates entered into each model using a forward stepwise selection process. Covariates of a priori interest included those representing marriage history, risky sexual behavior, substance use, perceived HIV risk, and sociodemographic characteristics. The prevalence of HIV among MFM women was 10.7% (any DV: 13.1%, no DV: 8.6%); overall prevalence of DV was 43.4%. Among all DV measures, only physical DV was associated with HIV (11.9%; adjusted odds ratio: 2.01, p <.05). Efforts by the government and women's groups to monitor and improve policies to reduce DV, such as the Sexual Offences Act of 2006, are urgently needed to curb HIV, as are policies that seek to provide DV counseling and treatment to MFM women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors declare no interest or influence by any organization towards the submission of this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Percentage of domestic violence among married and formerly married women agreeing to be tested for HIV in Kenya, KDHS 2008/2009
AGBH: aggravated bodily harm
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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