HIV Prevalence and Intimate Partner Abuse in TIV Land, North Central Nigeria

Background: Several attempts have been made to document the relationship between HIV prevalence and partner violence. However, the relationship is still not clear. This present study adopted mixed methods to examine the relationship between HIV prevalence and violence amongst intimate partners in Nigeria.

Methods: The multi-stage and purposive sampling methods were used to obtain 1,621 (864 women; 757 men) respondents in four different locations for the study. Structured interviews using questionnaires and in-depth interviews (using a guide) were utilised for data collection. SPSS (version 21) was used for quantitative data analysis while the qualitative data was analysed thematically.

Results: The factors associated with multiple partnerships are location (P < 001; OR =.300; 95% CI = .210- .428); sex (P < 001; OR = 1.710; 95% CI = 1.391 -2.103 ); the desire for children (P = .024; OR = .735; 95% CI =.565-.952); receiving family support (P =.002; OR = .706; 95% CI = .565-.882) and the laws guiding sexual relationship that provide the ground for intimate partner abuse (P < 0.001; OR= 0.513; 95% CI = 0.375-0.700). Intimate partner abuse is carried out by both men and women using phones, informants, deprivations, tactics and antics.

Conclusion: The evidence suggests that there is a relationship between intimate partner abuse and HIV prevalence. Intimate partner abuse indicates another manifestation of the impact of HIV on human health. This study draws the attention of public health and clinical practitioners, policy makers and researchers to the co-existence of HIV prevalence and intimate partner abuse for possible intervention.