ABSTRACT
Intimate partner violence (IPV) may increase risk for HIV/AIDS among women engaging in transactional sex in Ugandan fishing communities. In this cross-sectional study, 115 women reporting engaging in transactional sex in Lake Victoria fishing communities completed a computerized interview. We tested associations between IPV and other HIV risk factors, with unprotected sex and HIV status, and tested moderators of the IPV-HIV risk relationship. Women reporting recent sexual IPV reported 3.36 times more unprotected sex acts (AdjExp[B] = 3.36, 95% CI = 1.29–8.69, p = 0.07). The effect of sexual IPV on sexual risk was significantly greater among alcohol and fish sellers compared to sex workers (interaction: Exp[B] = 12.29, 95% CI = 5.06–29.85, p < 0.001). Women reporting any sexual IPV were nearly four times more likely to report being HIV positive than women reporting no sexual IPV (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI = 1.22–12.66, p = 0.02). Integrated IPV and HIV interventions are needed in this context, especially among alcohol and fish sellers engaging in transactional sex.
Acknowledgements
We thank Joseph Kibuuka, Samuel Namukonge, and Hajara Kagulire for their role in data collection and transcription.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.