Intimate partner violence, HIV, and mental health: a triple epidemic of global proportions.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health problem of epidemic proportions, affecting a third of women across the globe and as many as 60% in heavily affected regions of Africa. There is strong evidence that risk of IPV is heightened in HIV-infected women, and emerging evidence linking experiencing IPV and/or HIV to a higher likelihood of experiencing mental health problems. This triple burden makes women in Africa, living in the epicentre of HIV, all the more vulnerable. In this synthesis, this study reviewed literature pertaining to the overlap of IPV, HIV, and mental health problems. It presents a series of geographical maps illustrating the heavy burden of IPV and HIV globally, and how these coincide with a growing prevalence of mental health problems in Africa. Furthermore, it presents evidence on: the association between IPV and HIV, shared risk factors, and health consequences. This synthesis sheds light on the fact that ∼30% of women are affected by these three burdens concurrently, and the need for intervention is essential. Promising large scale interventions which have taken place in Africa are described, and evidence is presented in support of integrated versus targeted screening.
a Africa Centre for Population Health , University of KwaZulu-Natal , South Africa.
Joanie
J
Mitchell
b School of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences , Glasgow University , Scotland.
Megan
M
Wight
c Human and Social Development Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council , South Africa.|d MRC/Developmental Pathways to Health Research Unit, School of Community Medicine , University of the Witwatersrand , South Africa.
Alastair
A
Van Heerden
c Human and Social Development Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council , South Africa.|d MRC/Developmental Pathways to Health Research Unit, School of Community Medicine , University of the Witwatersrand , South Africa.|e Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry , University of Oxford , UK.
Tamsen Jean
TJ
Rochat
D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
HIV; Intimate partner violence; interventions; mental health; prevalence; risk factors