Factors associated with the perpetration of sexual violence among wine-shop patrons in Chennai, India.
With an estimated 2.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS, India has the third highest number of HIV-infected people in the world. Despite reductions in prevalence among the general population, the percentage of all infections occurring among Indian women is continuing to rise. Women's risk of HIV infection from their partner and observed associations between sexual violence and HIV infection in India underscore the importance of understanding determinants of forced sex. A probability survey was conducted from June 2003 to August 2007 in Chennai, India, among alcohol venue ("wine shops") patrons to estimate the prevalence of sexual violence and to identify risk factors associated with perpetrating forced sex. Among 1499 men, 28.5% reported forced sex with at least one partner in the past 3 months. In multivariate analysis, earning income for less than 12 months a year, visiting the wine shop with friends, STD symptoms, perpetration of physical violence, and number of sexual partners were statistically significantly associated with perpetrating forced sex. Men who reported having 3 or more close friends were less likely to perpetrate violence. HIV interventions that facilitate formal groups that foster positive social support and address a range of HIV risk behaviors including sexually and physically abusive behaviors are recommended to reduce sexual violence.
Go
Vivian F
VF
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: vgo@jhsph.edu.
Srikrishnan
Aylur K
AK
YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai, India.
Salter
Megan L
ML
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Mehta
Shruti
S
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Johnson
Sethulakshmi C
SC
YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai, India.
Sivaram
Sudha
S
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Davis
Wendy
W
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Solomon
Suniti
S
YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai, India.
Celentano
David D
DD
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014920:Wine; D055815:Young Adult