Violence among women living with HIV in Iran: prevalence and related risk factors

Abstract

Introduction: Because of socio-cultural factors, such as violence perpetrated by intimate partners, women continue to be disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. Intimate partner violence has an impact on participation in treatment of HIV-positive women. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lifetime violence among Iranian women living with HIV, and to identify possible risk factors. Material and methods: The study was conducted among 135 HIV-positive women referring to the Counseling Center for Behavioral Diseases of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. In this study, a researcher-made questionnaire was used for collecting data through face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire included questions related to basic socio-demographic, sexual practices, stigma/ discrimination, and domestic violence. Results: Of the 135 interviewees, 91.5% had never experienced mental violence, and 84.4% had never experienced social violence, while 97.8% suffered from violence in their marriages. In our study, women's unemployment, low socio-economic status, and patriarchal dominance in families were the main predictors of intimate partner violence (IPV). We found a negative relationship between marital satisfaction and domestic violence. It was revealed that IPV also affects couples’ ability to issues related to their sexual life, including negotiating condom use and monogamy. Conclusions: A high proportion of HIV-positive women in Iran reported an experience of IPV in their lives. IPV was associated with situations involving a woman having an intimate relationship with her male partner. Due to its’ high prevalence, we recommend increasing knowledge about IPV among HIV healthcare providers and universal screening.