PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF INTIMATE PARTINER VIOLENCE AMONG HIV-POSITIVE WOMAN ATTENDING ART CLINICS HAWASSA CITY PUBLIC FACILITIES, SIDAMA, ETHIOPIA, 2024.

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence against women is a global public health issue, causing harm to close friends or intimate partners. One in three women has experienced violence, but it's underreported. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence among HIV-positive women. Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study with quantitative data collection methods was applied at Hawassa City public Healthcare facilities from March to April; 2024.The sample size will be determined by using openEpi. The facilities were selected by simple random method, and the sample. Data was collected by trained data collectors and collected by face to face interview by using electronic materials. Data was collected by Kobo toolbox and exported to SPSS version 26 and STATA version 16 for analysis. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses and to analysis was applied. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, a less than 0.05 P-value was considered statistically significant. Result: A total of 554 women responded completely, for a response rate of 98.75%. The mean age of the respondent was 36.08 (SD±7.58) years. In the past 12 months prevalence IPV, who had experienced one of the physical, emotional or sexual questions among HIV positive women was 40.3% (95 CI 36.3, 44.6). Psychological/emotional violence was the most common form, with prevalence of 36% (95%CI 32.9- 41.0%), followed by sexual violence 26 %( 95% CI 22.9- 30.1%) and physical violence 23.8 %( 95% CI 20.2-27.4%). Associated factors among HIV positive women include: disclosing HIV status for a partner or husband [AOR= 1.99, 95%CI (1.057, 3.747), partner alcohol drunk [AOR= 2.755, 95%CI (1.428, 5.313). Conclusion: Intimate partner violence among HIV positive attending ART clinics in study areas were considered to be high and identified as a public health issue. The important factors identified as significantly associated to the IPV among HIV positive women who attending ART clinics were disclose HIV status for partner or husband, Partner who drinks alcohol, women with three or more children, family monthly income less than 2000, history of faced stillbirth and being currently married women were significantly associated. Recommendations: Policy makers and concerned stake holders need to design screening tool to identify IPV in the health facilities, and intervention program implementation should be amended at the grass root level of the community accordingly.