Abstract
Inequality within partner relationships is associated with HIV acquisition and gender violence, but little is known about
more pervasive effects on women’s health. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of associations between sexual relationship
power and nutritional status among women in Uganda. Participants completed questionnaires and anthropometric measurements.
We assessed sexual relationship power using the Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS). We performed logistic regression to
test for associations between sexual relationship power and poor nutritional status including body mass index, body fat percentage,
and mid-upper arm circumference. Women with higher sexual relationship power scores had decreased odds of low body mass index
(OR 0.29, p = 0.01), low body fat percentage (OR 0.54, p = 0.04), and low mid-upper arm circumference (OR 0.22, p = 0.01). These relationships persisted in multivariable models adjusted for potential confounders. Targeted interventions
to improve intimate partner relationship equality should be explored to improve health status among women living with HIV
in rural Africa.
more pervasive effects on women’s health. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of associations between sexual relationship
power and nutritional status among women in Uganda. Participants completed questionnaires and anthropometric measurements.
We assessed sexual relationship power using the Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS). We performed logistic regression to
test for associations between sexual relationship power and poor nutritional status including body mass index, body fat percentage,
and mid-upper arm circumference. Women with higher sexual relationship power scores had decreased odds of low body mass index
(OR 0.29, p = 0.01), low body fat percentage (OR 0.54, p = 0.04), and low mid-upper arm circumference (OR 0.22, p = 0.01). These relationships persisted in multivariable models adjusted for potential confounders. Targeted interventions
to improve intimate partner relationship equality should be explored to improve health status among women living with HIV
in rural Africa.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0162-9
- Authors
- Mark J. Siedner, Department of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., GRJ-5, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Alexander C. Tsai, Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Shari Dworkin, Universitiy of California, San Francisco, USA
- Nozmo F. B. Mukiibi, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Nneka I. Emenyonu, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Peter W. Hunt, Universitiy of California, San Francisco, USA
- Jessica E. Haberer, Department of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., GRJ-5, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Jeffrey N. Martin, Universitiy of California, San Francisco, USA
- David R. Bangsberg, Department of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., GRJ-5, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Sheri D. Weiser, Universitiy of California, San Francisco, USA
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165