Armed conflict, HIV, and syndemic risk markers of mental distress, alcohol misuse, and intimate partner violence among couples in Uganda

Abstract

Northeastern Uganda has suffered from protracted armed conflict and HIV/AIDS and has some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) globally. Little is known about how exposure to conflict and HIV influence individuals’ syndemic risk markers or those of their partners. We conducted a population-based study using multistage sampling across three districts in Northeastern Uganda. We randomly surveyed 605 women aged 13–49 years and estimated syndemic problems for currently partnered women (N = 561) who reported for their male partners. Syndemic problems were lower in the low-conflict district than the high-conflict district, p =.009. Conflict exposure was associated with couples’ syndemic scores, respondent: β = 0.182, p