Domestic Violence among Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Zubairu I liyasu, Isa S Abubakar, Musa Babashani, Hadiza S Galadanci

Abstract

Despite the increased risk of domestic violence among women living with HIV/AIDS, its burden has not been adequately explored in many developing countries including Nigeria. Using interviewer administered questionnaires we assessed the prevalence and risk factors for domestic violence among 300 HIV seropositive women attending a teaching hospital in northern Nigeria. Participants have been diagnosed HIV positive for an average of 6.7 years; 66.3% were seroconcordant with their intimate partners while 16.3% were serodiscordant, the rest 17.4% did not know the partner’s status; 67.1% had disclosed their status to their partners; and 64(22.1%) [95%CI (17.5% to 27.4%)] had experienced domestic violence following HIV diagnosis. Specifically, 30.0% (n=19) experienced physical violence (slapping, kicking and punching), 59.3% (n=38) reported verbal violence (insults, threats) and 10.7% (n=7) endured emotional violence. None was sexually assaulted. Predictors of domestic violence were the woman’s age, marital status, disclosure and partner’s educational status. This calls for urgent steps and strategies for prevention, protection and post-test counseling on disclosure to avert this human right infringement (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[3]:41-49).

Résumé

Violence familial chez les femmes séropositives à Kano, au nord du : Malgré le risque de la violence domestique qui s’accroit chez les femmes séropositives, on n’a pas encore suffisamment exploré son fardeau dans plusieurs pays en voie de développement y compris le Nigéria.  A l’aide des questionnaires administrés par l’enquêteur, nous avons évalué la prévalence et les facteurs de risque de la violence familiale auprès de 300 femmes séropositives qui fréquentent un hôpital au nord du Nigéria.  Les participantes ont été diagnostiquées comme étant séropositives depuis une période de 6,7 ans au moyen ; 66,3% étaient séroconcordantes avec leurs partenaires intimes, alors que 16,3% étaient  séroconcordantes, le reste ne connaissais  pas la condition de leurs partenaires ; 67,1% avaient révélé leur condition à leurs partenaires ; et 64(22,1%) [95%CI (17,5% jusqu’à27, 4%)] avaient vécu une violence familiale suite à un diagnostic du VIH.  En particulier, 30,0%(n=19) ont vécu la violence physique (gifle, coups de pied et coups de poing), 59,3% (n=38) ont signalé la violence verbale (insultes, menaces)  et ont toléré la violence émotionnelle.  Nulle n’a été agressée sexuellement.  Les indices de la violence familiale étaient l’âge de la femme, son état civil, la révélation et le niveau de scolarisation du partenaire.  Ceci exige des démarches et des stratégies urgentes pour la prévention, la protection et le conseil d’après le test, suite à la révélation afin d’éviter la violation de ce droit de l’homme (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[3]:41-49).

 

  Keywords: Women, HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence, Nigeria

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