Prevent abuse of women to stem rise of HIV: researchers
14.08.2008 00:00
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Women in India who were physically and sexually abused by their husbands appeared to be at four times greater risk of HIV infection than non-abused women, researchers have found. About 2.5 million people are living with HIV in India, the third-largest number of cases of any country, Jay Silverman of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, and his colleagues said. In Wednesday's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the team said that despite a lower prevalence of infection among India's general population, women account for a rising percentage of HIV cases. "In this first national population-based study of the relationship of husbands' violence against wives to wives' HIV infection status (as indicated via diagnostic testing), married Indian women who experienced both physical and sexual intimate partner violence demonstrated an HIV infection prevalence approximately four times greater than that of non-abused women," the authors wrote. The risky sexual behaviour of husbands was the major source of women's infection, the researchers said. They suggested that doctors and public health officials focus on preventing intimate partner violence to help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. To come to that conclusion, researchers analyzed data on 8,139 married women who were part of national family health survey done across India in 2005 and 2006. Standard diagnostic tests for HIV were included as part of the study. The researchers found about 35 per cent of women said they had experienced physical violence, with or without sexual violence, from their husbands. About one-quarter reported physical abuse without sexual violence, and almost eight per cent reported both forms of violence. The study was reported in JAMA's theme issue on violence and human rights. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksIN DEPTH: AIDS, the global epidemicIntimate Partner Violence and HIV Infection Among Married Indian Women, JAMAHealth HeadlinesEarlier harvesting of hearts stirs ethics debateIn an effort to increase the supply of organs available for transplants, some doctors are waiting just 75 seconds after a heart stops beating to begin harvesting the organs, but some ethicists worry about the practice.Deaths due to air pollution to skyrocket: CMAAn estimated 700,000 Canadians will die over the next two decades because of illnesses caused by poor air quality, the Canadian Medical Association said in a report Wednesday.Drugs as good as surgery for many heart patientsEvidence is mounting that drugs should be tried before artery-opening angioplasty for people with chronic chest pain who are not at immediate risk for a heart attack.Canada invests $35M for national transplant systemCanadians needing an organ donation will be able to quickly find donors from across the country after a long-sought integrated program is launched.Project studies saliva test to assess breast cancer risk Thousands of women in Ontario who want to know if they are at risk for breast cancer have been giving saliva samples recently as part of a research project. Health FeaturesFOOD SAFETYInfrared heatA new wavelength for food securityAIDS RESEARCHLife expectancyBig jump in survival rates for those on HIV drugsIN DEPTHLyme diseaseTiny tick, big problemANOTHER VIEWDrugs and drivingNew law a 'positive step', analyst saysHEALTH & FITNESSPeter HadzipetrosRunning from wrinkles HEALTHMemorySurprising things that affect itPeople who read this also read …
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