Gender Inequality: A Vulnerability Factor To Hiv Infection Among Heterosexual Couples In Kenya

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of harmful cultural practices and its implications on stigmatization and the spread of HIV infection among people diagnosed with HIV in North Central Nigeria. It will help to identify the cultural values that pose a threat to the social, health and psychological well-being of the members of the society. This study will provide recommendations through educational teachings to community leaders and policymakers for health-care protection through Human Rights Act. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the qualitative phenomenological research design through a face-to-face in-depth interview to collect data using the audio recorder and field notes. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit, from three selected hospitals, 20 participants aged 18 years–56 years who gave their consent by filling the informed consent form between April 2019 and July 2019. The data collected were analyzed through thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti 8 software. Also, thematic network analysis was used to visualize the themes, sub-themes and quotations. Findings The study findings indicate that sociocultural factors and HIV stigma in Nigeria are significant psychosocial problems that have adverse implications for health and psychological well-being. These problems contribute to the harmful traditional practices, thereby making people vulnerable to contracting HIV infection. The nontherapeutic practices of female genital mutilation, sexual intercourse during menstruation and tribal marks or scarification cause medical complications such as vesicovaginal fistula, rectovaginal fistula and HIV infection. Also, the practice of 18 months of sexual abstinence during breastfeeding predisposes couples to extramarital affairs and HIV infections. The findings also reveal that lack of education contributes to gender inequality. Originality/value The research uses a scientific method using ATLAS.ti 8 software for the transcription, organization and thematic analysis of the qualitative data. The study findings will benefit specifically the young girls and women who are usually the victims of the harmful cultural practices of female genital mutilation, gender inequality, sexual intercourse during menstruation and lack of female education in North Central Nigeria. Also, this study will serve as a relevant document and guide for policy implementation of Human and Child Rights Acts against all harmful cultural practices and gender inequality.

Download Full-text

Cultural practices, gender inequality and inconsistent condom use increase vulnerability to HIV infection: narratives from married and cohabiting women in rural communities in Mpumalanga province, South Africa

Global Health Action ◽

10.1080/16549716.2017.1341597 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (sup2) ◽

pp. 1341597 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Sphiwe Madiba ◽

Nomsa Ngwenya

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Condom Use ◽

Gender Inequality ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Inconsistent Condom ◽

Mpumalanga Province ◽

Inconsistent Condom Use

Download Full-text

Sociocultural and Behavioral Contexts of Condom Use in Heterosexual Married Couples in India: Challenges to the HIV Prevention Program

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198103259204 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 101-117 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Gauri Bhattacharya

Keyword(s):

Hiv Prevention ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Condom Use ◽

Health Beliefs ◽

Cultural Beliefs ◽

Married Couples ◽

Holistic Health ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Sexual Relationships ◽

Heterosexual Couples

This article examines sociocultural expectations of sexual behavior and the reasons why not using condoms may be logical to married heterosexual couples in India. Married women who report monogamous sexual relationships with their husbands are a high-risk group for HIV infection in India. Based on the public health model and a population-based perspective on HIV infection prevention, this article illustrates the underlying mechanisms that link the role of women in society, holistic health beliefs, and cultural beliefs about the transmission of HIV with the precursors to nonuse of condoms. The author concludes that promoting condom use requires an emphasis on family health, not only as contraceptives. Challenges for reducing the social stigma and developing a comprehensive policy on HIV prevention and AIDS treatment and care are discussed.

Download Full-text

Socio-demographic predictors of gender inequality among heterosexual couples expecting a child in south-central Uganda

African Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ahs.v20i3.23 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 1196-1205

Author(s):

Caroline J Vrana-Diaz ◽

Jeffrey E Korte ◽

Mulugeta Gebregziabher ◽

Lauren Richey ◽

Anbesaw Selassie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Gender Equality ◽

Gender Inequality ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Underserved Populations ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Heterosexual Couples ◽

Model Framework ◽

South Central

Background: Gender inequality is a pervasive problem in sub-Saharan Africa, and has negative effects on health and de- velopment. Objective: Here, we sought to identify socioeconomic predictors of gender inequality (measured by low decision-making power and high acceptance of intimate partner violence) within heterosexual couples expecting a child in south-central Uganda. Method: We used data from a two-arm cluster randomized controlled HIV self-testing intervention trial conducted in three antenatal clinics in south-central Uganda among 1,618 enrolled women and 1,198 male partners. Analysis included Cochran Mantel-Haenzel, proportional odds models, logistic regression, and generalized linear mixed model framework to account for site-level clustering. Results: Overall, we found that 31.1% of men had high acceptance of IPV, and 15.9% of women had low decision-making power. We found religion, education, HIV status, age, and marital status to significantly predict gender equality. Specifically, we observed lower gender equality among Catholics, those with lower education, those who were married, HIV positive women, and older women. Conclusion: By better understanding the prevalence and predictors of gender inequality, this knowledge will allow us to better target interventions (increasing education, reducing HIV prevalence in women, targeting interventions different reli- gions and married couples) to decrease inequalities and improve health care delivery to underserved populations in Uganda. Keywords: Gender inequality; Pregnancy; HIV/AIDS; Prenatal Care; Uganda.

Download Full-text

KIR-HLA-A and B alleles of the Bw4 epitope against HIV infection in discordant heterosexual couples in Chaco Argentina

Immunology ◽

10.1111/imm.12137 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 140 (2) ◽

pp. 273-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Alicia Habegger de Sorrentino ◽

Jessica L. Sinchi ◽

Karina Marinic ◽

Rosana López ◽

Ernesto Iliovich

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

Heterosexual Couples

Download Full-text

Risk factors for HIV infection among married couples in Rakai, Uganda: A cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.2.15768/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Anne M. Nabukenya ◽

Aminah Nambuusi ◽

Joseph KB Matovu

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Married Couples ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hiv Prevalence ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Couple Relationships ◽

Heterosexual Couples ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background: Evidence suggests that married couples are at an elevated risk of HIV infection. We explored the risk factors for HIV infection among married couples in settings with differing HIV prevalence in Rakai, Uganda.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 664 heterosexual couples living in three HIV prevalence strata (low: 9-11.2%; medium: 11.4-20% or high HIV prevalence: 21% or higher) in Rakai District, south-western Uganda, between November 2013 and February 2014. Data were collected on socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics from all consenting adults and aggregated to allow for couple-level analyses. We conducted bivariate and multivariable Logistic regression to assess the factors that were independently associated with HIV infection among married couples.Results: Of the 664 couples, 6.4% ( n =42) were in HIV-discordant relationships; 5.8% ( n =39) were in concordant HIV-positive relationships while 87.8% ( n =583) were in concordant HIV-negative relationships. At the bivariate analysis, we found that individuals residing in a high HIV prevalence stratum had 4 times the odds of living as part of an HIV infected couple (odds ratio [OR]=4.29; 95% CI:2.95 6.25) than those in other lower HIV prevalence strata. Individuals who had been in at least three previous couple relationships were six times more likely to be part of an HIV infected couple (OR=6.25, 95% CI:4.11, 9.17) than their counterparts. After adjusting for potential cofounders, living in a high HIV prevalence stratum (Adjusted OR [AOR] =2.31, 95% CI: 1.52, 3.52) and being in a second (AOR=3.32, 95% CI: 2, 33, 4.70), third or higher order relationship (AOR=3.79, 95% CI: 2.29, 6.28) were associated with couple HIV infection. Individuals that had stayed together for six or more years had 28% odds of being part of an HIV infected couple (AOR = 0.28; 95%CI: 0.18, 0.43).Conclusion: The risk factors associated with HIV infection in married couples were living in a high HIV prevalence stratum and having a higher number of previous couple relationships. These findings suggest a need for pre-marital couples’ HIV testing to reduce on the number of relationships that form when one or both partners are already infected with HIV.

Download Full-text

Is Emtricitabine-Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Safer Than Aspirin?

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofv221 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Noah Kojima ◽

Jeffrey D. Klausner

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Gastrointestinal Bleeding ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate ◽

African Women ◽

Health Study ◽

Heterosexual Couples ◽

Preexposure Prophylaxis ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract Background. The safety and effectiveness studies of emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC-TDF) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in men and women showed that daily use reduced the risk of HIV acquisition, but there still may concerns about safety. Methods. A narrative review was done in September 2015 comparing the 5 major studies on PrEP for HIV infection—Preexposure Prophylaxis Initiative (N = 2499; 3324 person-years), Partners Preexposure Prophylaxis (N = 4747; 7830 person-years), TDF2 (N = 1219; 1563 person-years), Preexposure Prophylaxis Trial for HIV Prevention among African Women (N = 2056; 1407 person-years), and Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic (N = 4969; 5509 person-years)—and the 2 major studies on aspirin safety—Physicians' Health Study (N = 22 071; over 110 000 person-years) and the Women's Health Study (N = 39 876; approximately 400 000 person-years). The numbers needed to harm (NNH) were calculated for FTC-TDF for HIV infection PrEP and aspirin. Results. The NNH for FTC-TDF in men who have sex with men and transgender women was 114 for nausea and 96 for unintentional weight loss; in heterosexual couples, the NNH was 68 for moderate decreased absolute neutrophil count. For aspirin, the NNH was 909 for major gastrointestinal bleeding, 123 for any gastrointestinal bleeding, and 15 for any bleeding problems in men. In women, the NNH for easy bruising was 10. Conclusions. We conclude that FTC-TDF for PrEP for HIV infection favorably compares with aspirin in terms of user safety. Although long-term studies are needed, providers should feel reassured about the safety of short- and medium-term PrEP for HIV infection with FTC-TDF.

Download Full-text