Intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread yet often unrecognized problem that affects millions of women worldwide. It is prevalent among marginalized individuals, such as women living with HIV. However, there is a dearth of available evidence concerning this matter among wo...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23609-z |
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| author | Gossa Fetene Abebe Melsew Setegn Alie Amanuel Adugna Nigusie Shifera Wubetu Agegnehu Tewodros Yosef Desalegn Girma |
| author_facet | Gossa Fetene Abebe Melsew Setegn Alie Amanuel Adugna Nigusie Shifera Wubetu Agegnehu Tewodros Yosef Desalegn Girma |
| author_sort | Gossa Fetene Abebe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread yet often unrecognized problem that affects millions of women worldwide. It is prevalent among marginalized individuals, such as women living with HIV. However, there is a dearth of available evidence concerning this matter among women living with HIV in East Africa. Objective We systematically reviewed and analyzed the existing evidence on the prevalence of IPV and its associated factors among women living with HIV in East Africa. Methods We included all primary cross-sectional studies published before 20th June/2024. PubMed, HINARI, Web of Science, African Journal Online, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched. To appraise the included studies, the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used. We used the I2 test to determine the heterogeneity of the included studies. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot and Egger’s test. Lastly, the IPV among women living with HIV and its associated factors were presented using pooled proportion and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Results Eighteen cross-sectional studies involving 11,168 individuals were included. The pooled prevalence of intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa was 54.6% (95% CI, 44.1-65.1%). The odds of IPV among women living with HIV in East Africa were high for those with low monthly income (OR: 2.96, 95% CI: 1.32–6.68), alcohol-drinking partners (OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.54–3.28), multiple sexual partners (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.52–3.43), experiences of controlling behavior by an intimate partner (OR: 4.65, 95% CI: 2.79–7.73), and favorable attitudes towards wife-beating (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.87–3.51). Conclusion In East Africa, the prevalence of IPV among women living with HIV was found to be high. As a result, it is crucial to implement focused and targeted interventions that promote behavioral change. Also, the findings emphasize the necessity of establishing and organizing support networks to address IPV among women living with HIV. Trial registration Registered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42024565464. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-50d8352ecc0f4d4aa9fabeaa385ef808 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-50d8352ecc0f4d4aa9fabeaa385ef8082025-08-20T04:02:50ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23609-zIntimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysisGossa Fetene Abebe0Melsew Setegn Alie1Amanuel Adugna2Nigusie Shifera3Wubetu Agegnehu4Tewodros Yosef5Desalegn Girma6Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan - Tepi UniversityDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan - Tepi UniversityDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan - Tepi UniversitySchool of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan - Tepi UniversitySchool of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan - Tepi UniversitySchool of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan - Tepi UniversityDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan - Tepi UniversityAbstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread yet often unrecognized problem that affects millions of women worldwide. It is prevalent among marginalized individuals, such as women living with HIV. However, there is a dearth of available evidence concerning this matter among women living with HIV in East Africa. Objective We systematically reviewed and analyzed the existing evidence on the prevalence of IPV and its associated factors among women living with HIV in East Africa. Methods We included all primary cross-sectional studies published before 20th June/2024. PubMed, HINARI, Web of Science, African Journal Online, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched. To appraise the included studies, the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used. We used the I2 test to determine the heterogeneity of the included studies. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot and Egger’s test. Lastly, the IPV among women living with HIV and its associated factors were presented using pooled proportion and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Results Eighteen cross-sectional studies involving 11,168 individuals were included. The pooled prevalence of intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa was 54.6% (95% CI, 44.1-65.1%). The odds of IPV among women living with HIV in East Africa were high for those with low monthly income (OR: 2.96, 95% CI: 1.32–6.68), alcohol-drinking partners (OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.54–3.28), multiple sexual partners (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.52–3.43), experiences of controlling behavior by an intimate partner (OR: 4.65, 95% CI: 2.79–7.73), and favorable attitudes towards wife-beating (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.87–3.51). Conclusion In East Africa, the prevalence of IPV among women living with HIV was found to be high. As a result, it is crucial to implement focused and targeted interventions that promote behavioral change. Also, the findings emphasize the necessity of establishing and organizing support networks to address IPV among women living with HIV. Trial registration Registered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42024565464.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23609-zIntimate partner violenceWomen living with HIVEast AfricaSystematic Review |
| spellingShingle | Gossa Fetene Abebe Melsew Setegn Alie Amanuel Adugna Nigusie Shifera Wubetu Agegnehu Tewodros Yosef Desalegn Girma Intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Public Health Intimate partner violence Women living with HIV East Africa Systematic Review |
| title | Intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Intimate partner violence among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | intimate partner violence among women living with hiv in east africa a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Intimate partner violence Women living with HIV East Africa Systematic Review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23609-z |
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