Gender-based violence and risk of HIV among women attending antenatal clinics in the Adamawa region, Cameroon

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) and gender inequality are cited as key determinants of women’s HIV risk. More than one third (35%) of women around the world have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence by a non-partner at some time in their lives. Objectives: This study had as aim to examine the relationship between violence against women and the risk of HIV infection among women attending antenatal care at the Ngaoundere Regional Hospital, by assessing the prevalence of both HIV and various forms of violence, as well as identifying associated risk factors. Methods : A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among women attending antenatal care at the Ngaoundere Regional Hospital between March and May 2021. All participants were offered routine antenatal voluntary counseling and HIV testing. Women aged 15 years and above who consented to HIV testing were eligible for inclusion in the study. Data on lifetime experiences of physical, sexual, and emotional violence perpetrated by male partners were collected using the WHO Violence Against Women instrument, which includes specific and objective descriptions of violent behaviors. Additional information was gathered on the number of primary and non-primary male partners, history of transactional sex, and condom use. Data were collected using a structured pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 25. Chi-square tests were used to compare proportions between groups, while univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with HIV infection. Results: Our study revealed a 4.2% prevalence of HIV among pregnant women at the Ngaoundere regional hospital. After adjusting for confounders, partner’s status, sexual violence, emotional violence, first forced experience, transactional sex and condom use, were confirmed to be significant predictors to contracting HIV among pregnant women in the Ngaoundere Regional Hospital. Conclusion: Sexual violence is alarmingly prevalent in the Adamawa region (85.4%), with a 4.2% HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Ngaoundere. While sexual violence alone was not directly linked to HIV, its association with risky behaviors calls for integrated prevention efforts combining HIV screening, education, and gender-based violence support.