title: A prospective study of frequency and correlates of intimate partner violence among African heterosexual HIV serodiscordant couples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common worldwide and is an important consideration in couples HIV voluntary counseling and testing (CVCT), especially for HIV-serodiscordant couples (i.e. in which only one member is HIV-infected).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of 3408 HIV-serodiscordant couples (2299 in which the HIV-infected partner was female) from seven countries from East and Southern Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  At quarterly visits during up to 2 years of follow-up, participants were asked, separately, about IPV perpetrated against them by their partner during the prior 3 months. Correlates of IPV were determined by generalized estimating equations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of couples were married and living together, with an average duration of partnership of approximately 5 years. More than 39,000 quarterly visits were recorded. IPV was reported in 2.7% of visits by HIV-infected women, 2.2% by HIV-uninfected women, 0.9% by HIV-infected men, and 0.7% by HIV-uninfected men. The majority of IPV reports were verbal or a combination of verbal and physical violence. Those who were HIV-infected were more likely to report IPV [for women adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.33, P = 0.043; for men AOR 2.20, P = 0.001], but IPV was not significantly associated with risk of HIV seroconversion in HIV-uninfected participants. IPV incidence decreased during follow-up (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During up to 2 years of prospective follow-up, most persons in stable HIV-serodiscordant partnerships who had undergone CVCT did not report IPV. A modest increased risk of IPV was seen for HIV-infected partners, both female and male.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health, Moi University, Kenya.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Were
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delany-Moretlwe
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakku-Joloba
authors.forename: Nelly R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Mugo
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiarie
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bukusi
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celum
authors.forename: Jared M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baeten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000351:Africa, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D000353:Africa, Southern / Q000453:epidemiology; D003376:Counseling / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*