Intimate Partner Violence Against HIV-Positive Women is Associated with Sub-Optimal Infant Feeding Practices in Lusaka, Zambia.

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study is to determine how intimate partner violence against HIV-positive women affects safe infant feeding practices in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods A cross-sectional face-to-face survey was conducted with 320 married postpartum women at a large public health center in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2014. Variables were measured using previously validated instrumentsfrom the Demographic and Health Survey. Data were analyzed using simple and multivariate logistic regression in Stata 12. Results Thirty-seven percent of women report early mixed infant feedingprior to six months. Women who experienced intimate partner violence have 2.8 higher adjusted odds of early mixed infant feeding (p<0.001). Women who experienced emotional violence, specifically, have 1.9 higher adjusted odds of early mixed infant feeding (p<0.05), while women who experienced sexual violence have 2.3 higher adjusted odds (p<0.01). There is also a dose-response relationship between IPV and early mixed infant feeding(p < 0.05). Lastly, disclosing one's HIV-positive status to the husband is associated with at least 67% lower adjusted odds of early mixed feeding (p<0.05). Conclusions Intimate partner violence against HIV-positive women, in particular emotional and sexual violence, increases the likelihood of early mixed infantfeeding, putting infants at greater risk for both mother-to-child transmission of HIV and other infant morbidities. Intimate partner violence should thusbe given increased attention within the context of infant feeding and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.