Intimate partner violence and sexually risky behavior in Botswana: implications for HIV prevention.
OBJECTIVE
Evidence-based research has identified a link between experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and exposure to HIV in the general population and for women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Emerging evidence in Sub-Saharan Africa supports the fact that violence perpetrated against women and girls tends to increase their risk of HIV infection. The aim of the study was to explore the type and severity of IPV and HIV-related risk behaviors among remote, rural, and urban dwellers in Botswana aged 15 and over.


METHODS
The study combined both quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry. Respondents came from remote area settlements and rural and urban areas of Botswana. The sample population was 1,378 Botswana, who are 15 years and above. Face-to-face structured and unstructured interviews were conducted by trained interviewers.


RESULTS
Thirty-two percent of the respondents reported that they had been in a relationship that they perceived as abusive. Respondents had had at least 2.4 abusive relationships. The mean Habitat Sustainability Index summed score was 2.4 (SD = 2.2). Women were more likely to report having been in an abusive relationship than men. The linear combination of physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse explained 37% of the variance in sexually risky behaviors, r(2) = .37, F (13, 113) = 4.113, p <. 001, F change = 4.392. Emotional abuse and sexual abuse were the best predictors of sexually risky behaviors. When categories of abuse were classified by physical and nonphysical abuse, nonphysical (verbal and emotional abuse) accounted for a greater part of the variance in sexual high-risk behavior (beta = .32, p = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common in Botswana and is related to high-risk sexual behavior. Programs for the prevention of HIV should adopt a life course model in order to identify the underlying factors in high-risk behavior.
Modie-Moroka
Tirelo
T
Social Work Department, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. modiet@mopipi.ub.bw
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012938:Social Perception; D012945:Social Values; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018454:Spouses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult