title: Sexual risk factors associated with intimate partner violence against women in Rwanda: a couples-based analysis.
abstract: The goal of this study was to measure the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and to examine the independent association of sexual risk factors of women and their husbands/partners with IPV. We used data from 2,169 couples from the 2005 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey. Face-to-face interviews were conducted, and multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 560 (29.2%), 415 (22.2%), and 233 (12.4%) women reported any physical, psychological, or sexual IPV, respectively. History of genital ulcer in women was significantly associated with psychological IPV (AOR: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.67-4.59), whereas history of genital ulcer reported by husbands/partners was significantly associated with sexual IPV (AOR 2.80, 95% CI: 1.08-7.29). The number of lifetime sexual partners of husbands was positively associated with increasing odds of their wives being exposed to psychological IPV (p = 0.025) and physical IPV (p = .017). In a representative sample of couples, husbands/partners' sexual risk factors were associated with IPV reported by their wives. Genital ulcer appeared to be a risk marker for the presence of IPV victimization/perpetration.
authors.affiliation: a Faculté de Pharmacie , Université Laval , Québec, Québec , Canada.
authors.forename: Jeanne Françoise
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kayibanda
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bitera
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demers
authors.forename: Jocelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moisan
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alary
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: couples-based analysis; intimate partner violence; sexual risk factors