Sexual violence and self-reported sexually transmitted infections among women in sub-Saharan Africa

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21342851
AutoresRichard Gyan Aboagye (0000-0002-3498-2909, University of Health and Allied Sciences, autor correspondente), Abdul-Aziz Seidu (0000-0001-9734-9054, Takoradi Technical University), Bright Opoku Ahinkorah (0000-0001-7415-895X, University of Technology Sydney), James Boadu Frimpong (0000-0002-9416-1176, University of Cape Coast), Sanni Yaya (0000-0002-4876-6043, University of Ottawa)
Ano2023
Volume55
Fascículo2
Páginas292-305
Data de publicação2023-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Biosocial Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0021-9320 • E-ISSN: 1469-7599
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0021932022000062
PMID35193714
OpenAlexW4213427959
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas43

Sexual violence has proven to be associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We examined the association between sexual violence and self-reported STIs (SR-STIs) among women in sexual unions in 15 sub-Saharan African countries. This was a cross-sectional study involving the analysis of data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from 15 countries in SSA. A total sample of 65,392 women in sexual unions were included in the final analysis. A multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was carried out and the results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) at 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Women who experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months were more likely to self-report STIs compared to those who did not experience sexual violence [aOR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.59-1.94]. Compared to women in Angola, those who were in Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Liberia were more likely to self-report STIs while those in Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe were less likely to self-report STIs. The study has revealed variations in the country level regarding the prevalence of sexual violence and SR-STI in the last 12 months among women in sexual unions in the selected countries. This study has demostrated that sexual violence in the last 12 months is associated with SR-STIs among women in sexual unions. Moreover, factors that predict SR-STIs were observed in this study. Policymakers and agencies that matter could consider the factors identified in this study when designing policies or strengthening existing ones to tackle STIs among women in SSA. To accelerate the progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3, its imperative efforts and interventions must be intensified in SSA to reduce sexual violence which will go a long way to reduce SR-STIs among women

Criminology · Environmental health · Sexual violence · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues