Yale University

Experiences and acceptance of intimate partner violence: associations with sexually transmitted infection symptoms and ability to negotiate sexual safety among young Liberian women.

TitleExperiences and acceptance of intimate partner violence: associations with sexually transmitted infection symptoms and ability to negotiate sexual safety among young Liberian women.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsCallands, Tamora A., Heather L. Sipsma, Theresa S. Betancourt, and Nathan B. Hansen
JournalCulture, health & sexuality
Volume15
Issue6
Pagination680-94
Date Published2013
ISSN1464-5351
KeywordsAdolescent, Attitude, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Liberia, Logistic Models, Prevalence, Safe Sex, Sex Offenses, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Spouse Abuse, War, Young Adult
AbstractWomen who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) may be at elevated risk for poor sexual health outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This association, however, has not been consistently demonstrated in low-income or post-conflict countries. Furthermore, the role that attitudes towards IPV play in sexual-health outcomes and behaviour has rarely been examined. We examined associations between IPV experiences, accepting attitudes towards physical IPV, and sexual-health and behavioural outcomes among 592 young women in post-conflict Liberia. Participants' experiences with either moderate or severe physical violence or sexual violence were common. Additionally, accepting attitudes towards physical IPV were positively associated with reporting STI symptoms, IPV experiences and the ability to negotiate safe sex. Findings suggest that for sexual-health-promotion and risk-reduction-intervention efforts to achieve full impact, interventions must address the contextual influence of violence, including individual attitudes toward IPV.
DOI10.1080/13691058.2013.779030
Alternate JournalCult Health Sex

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