Responses to Intimate Partner Violence by HIV Positive Women Attending Kericho County Referral Hospital Comprehensive Care Centre in Kericho, Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to describe how HIV positive women attending the Kericho County Referral Hospital Comprehensive Care Centre respond to intimate partner violence. The descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. A sample of 230 HIV positive women aged above 15 years was systematically sampled between May and July 2013. Interview schedules and focus group discussions were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Content analysis was done and SPSS 20.0 and Microsoft Excel used to enter and analyze the data to come up with frequencies and themes. Out of the 230 women interviewed, 156 had experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). The study found out that physical abuse (57.8%) was the most common form of IPV experienced while sexual abuse (4.9%) was the least experienced. In addition, 25.6% of the women interviewed reported an increase in violence after testing HIV positive. Most of the abused participants responded to IPV by leaving (45.5%) and talking to a friend (21.2%). Therefore, HIV and IPV are syndemic issues that have to be addressed for a successful HIV program. The HIV positive women attending Kericho District Hospital (KDH) noted to be significantly affected by IPV. There is an urgent need for the incorporation of IPV screening and management practices into the HIV program at KDH with the training of health providers on IPV. Trauma-informed care should be part of the health care provided at the CCC.