Emotional Violence is Associated with Increased HIV Risk Behavior Among South African Adolescent Girls and Young Women in the HPTN 068 Cohort
Date
2021-11-06
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Abstract
Limited research has explored how emotional intimate partner violence (IPV) shapes HIV risk behaviors. Using crosssectional data from the HPTN 068 post-trial visit (N=1942), we assessed the association between emotional IPV and its
sub-domains (verbal abuse and threats) with condomless sex, transactional sex, and frequent alcohol use among young women
in South Africa. In adjusted multivariable logistic regression models, any emotional IPV and verbal IPV were associated
with increased odds of condomless sex (aOR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.87; and aOR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.89), transactional
sex (aOR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.74, 3.08; and aOR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.51, 2.71) and alcohol use (aOR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.39, 2.53;
and aOR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.37, 2.55). Threats were associated with transactional sex (aOR: 3.67; 95% CI: 2.62, 5.14). Future
research should examine this relationship over-time and HIV prevention programs should consider and address emotional IPV.
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Keywords
Emotional violence · Intimate partner violence · Adolescent girls and young women · HIV risk behaviors · SubSaharan Africa