Intimate Partner Violence and Sexually Transmitted Infections among South African Women: An Assessment of Age Disparities.

OBJECTIVES

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be public health challenges globally and in South Africa. However, studies examining the relationship between IPV and STIs, and the potential age disparities among South African women are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between varying forms of IPV (sexual, physical and emotional) and STI diagnosis among South African women and assess the potential age disparities in this relationship.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the 2017 South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication (SABSSM) National Household Cross-sectional Survey (N = 8,505). Crude and multivariable logistic regression models (adjusting for ethnicity, education, and region) were used to determine the association between different forms of IPV and STIs in the past year (N = 8,505). Models were stratified by age group (15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-49).

RESULTS

Sexual (aOR: 2.97; 95% CI: 1.78 - 4.95), physical (aOR: 2.45; 95% CI: 1.78 - 3.37) and emotional IPV (aOR: 2.70; 95% CI: 2.01 - 3.61) were associated with STIs in the overall study population. However, disparities by age group existed. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15-24 and women aged 25-34 who experienced sexual IPV were four times and three times as likely to report STIs compared to AGYW and women aged 25-34 who did not experience sexual IPV (adjusted OR (aOR): 3.58; 95% CI: 1.14 - 11.3; aOR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.19 - 5.92, respectively). Older women, aged 45-49, who experienced sexual IPV were seven times more likely to report STIs (aOR: 6.92; 95% CI: 1.58 - 30.4). Similar patterns were seen for women exposed to emotional and physical IPV.

CONCLUSION

IPV interventions are warranted for women IPV survivors across the age spectrum, which may help to reduce the incidence of STIs.