Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

The Intimate Partner Violence experiences of sexual assault, a risk factor on the transmission of HIV infection among women in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Fikile C. Madzimbalale, Lunic B. Khoza, Rachel T. Lebese and Hilda N. Shilubane

Violence against women is present in every country and it cut across boundaries of culture, class, education, income, ethnicity and age. Research has shown that there are links between HIV and AIDS, gender inequity and gender based violence that prevents women from influencing the circumstances of sex, resulting in unsafe sex practice and contracting of sexually transmitted infections including HIV and AIDS.

The overall objective of the study was to increase understanding of Intimate Partner Violence experiences of sexual assault, its risk factor on the transmission of HIV infection among women admitted in Trauma Unit A of a particular hospital in the Vhembe District. This raises the questions “What is the women’s experience of sexual assault? Is sexual assault a risk factor to the transmission of HIV infection among women?”

The research design was qualitative, exploratory descriptive and contextual in nature. In this study the target population consisted of all women who made use of a trauma unit A ata particular hospital in the LimpopoProvince. Six participants were selected by means of purposive sampling. In-depth individual interviews were conducted, using a voice recorder.

The principles outlined by Lincoln and Guba were followed to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Data analysis was guided by Tesch’s principles of qualitative data analysis.

The findings of the study reflected that women experienced Intimate Partner Violence sexual assault in their lives and that sexual assault is a risk factor to the transmission of HIV infection among women. The study therefore, suggests a need for screening and prevention programmes that aims to reduce Intimate Partner Violence and HIV infection