Prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence following partner notification among index HIV clients attending primary healthcare facilities in Uganda

ABSTRACT

Assisted partner notification (APN) program was adopted by Uganda to increase individuals testing for HIV through their partners who test HIV positive. Thus, early enrollment in treatment and ensuring prevention services for the affected couple. However, APN is associated with high levels of Intimate partner violence (IPV). We aimed at determining the prevalence of IPV following APN in a cross-sectional study of newly diagnosed HIV clients in southwestern Uganda. We used the modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale to assess IPV. We also collected information on sociodemographics of the index clients and their sexual partners, and outcome of linkage to care of partner. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with IPV. We enrolled 327 index clients, mean age was 39.1, 63.6% were female and 35.5 experienced IPV following APN. The likelihood of experiencing IPV was more than twice if a health worker/provider disclosed the status to the partner. However, if the partners turned out to be HIV positive, it was protective against experiencing IPV, adjusted odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.23–0.69, p = 0.001. We conclude that IPV is common following partner notification in rural Uganda and should be screened and addressed.

KEYWORDS:

• Intimate partner violence
• assisted partner notification
• primary healthcare
• HIV

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the HEPI-TUITAH MICRO-RESEARCH AWARD under Grant No: R25TW01121 for selecting us among the winning teams to be supported to conduct this study. We thank the facilitators of Micro research training for introducing us to research methods. In a special way, we thank the facilitator of aim one for teaching about HIV/AIDS using Low Dose High Frequency approach, which has enabled us to appreciate the challenges around the care of HIV/AIDS patients where this study generated the gap for investigation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author’s contribution

All authors were involved in conceptualization of the idea, study design, data collection, writing and drafting the manuscript, and accepted the manuscript to be published.

Ethical approval and consent of participants

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The study received ethics approval from the research ethics committee of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (approval number: MUSTREC #01/12-20). All participants provided voluntary written informed consent at study enrollment.

Consent for publication

Participants consented to the publication of the information obtained from them.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author SM on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Fogarty International Center (U.S. Department of State’s Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy [S/GAC] and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief [PEPFAR]) of the National Institutes of Health under [Award Number R25TW01120]. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.