HIV Testing Among Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) increases the risk of HIV infection. Women are most vulnerable to both HIV and IPV. One of the main interventions to control HIV is testing, which enables infected individuals to receive treatment and improved outcomes. However, HIV testing has been lower than expected, globally. Understanding the factors associated with HIV testing especially among high risk populations such as women experiencing IPV is essential to designing targeted interventions to address them. The study sought to examine HIV testing and associated factors among women experiencing IPV. Methods: Secondary data analysis of data generated from a cross-sectional mixed-method two arms unmatched cluster randomized controlled trial was done. The data related to four districts in the Central region of Ghana. The outcome of the study was HIV testing, with IPV, socio-demographic and sexual behavioural factors as exposure variables. Data analysis was performed using STATA IC version 16. Results: The study showed significant association between HIV testing and IPV among women. The prevalence of HIV testing among IPV was 43.3% during lifetime, and 16.2% in past 12 months. About 50.4% of women reported lifetime experience of IPV. Prevalence of economic, emotional, physical and sexual IPV forms were estimated at 10.1%, 36.7%, 32.2% and 18.5% respectively. Factors associated with HIV testing among women experiencing IPV included living inland in coastal areas (AOR:0.51, 95% CI:0.37–0.69), living in community for 10-19 years (AOR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.45–0.97), travelling for work (AOR:1.35, 95% CI:1.01–1.81) and having first sexual experience with a boyfriend (AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.26 – 0.66). Conclusion: HIV testing among women experiencing IPV was low. Considering the vulnerability of women experiencing IPV to HIV infection, integrating HIV testing into IPV support services is likely to facilitate early detection and entry to the HIV treatment cascade, which is essential to achieving HIV global goals and offers a unique opportunity to address these overlapping issues simultaneously