The Associations of Intimate Partner Violence and Non-Partner Sexual Violence with Hypertension in South African Women

Kim Anh Nguyen, Naeemah Abrahams, Rachel Jewkes, Shibe Mhlongo, Soraya Seedat, Bronwyn Myers, Carl Lombard, Claudia Garcia-Moreno, Esnat Chirwa, Andre Pascal Kengne and Nasheeta Peer
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Kim Anh Nguyen: Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Naeemah Abrahams: Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Rachel Jewkes: Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Shibe Mhlongo: Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Soraya Seedat: SAMRC Unit on the Genomics of Brain Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Bronwyn Myers: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Carl Lombard: Biostatistics Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Claudia Garcia-Moreno: UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Esnat Chirwa: Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Andre Pascal Kengne: Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Nasheeta Peer: Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: This study describes associations of intimate partner violence (IPV), non-partner sexual violence (NPSV) and sexual harassment (SH) exposures with hypertension in South African women aged 18–40 years. Baseline data ( n = 1742) from the Rape Impact Cohort Evaluation study, including a history of sexual, physical, emotional and economic IPV, NPSV and SH were examined. Hypertension was based on blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or a previous diagnosis. Logistic regressions were adjusted for traditional hypertension risk factors and previous trauma (e.g., recent rape). Hypertension was more prevalent in women with a history of all forms of IPV, NPSV, and SH, all p ≤ 0.001, compared to women without. Frequent NPSV (adjusted odds ratio: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.27–2.67) any SH (2.56; 1.60–4.03), frequent physical (1.44; 1.06–1.95) and emotional IPV (1.45; 1.06–1.98), and greater severity of emotional IPV (1.05; 1.02–1.08) were associated with hypertension. Current depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms and/or alcohol binge-drinking completely or partially mediated these associations. This study shows that exposure to gender-based violence is associated with hypertension in young women. Understanding the role of psychological stress arising from abuse may enable the development of prevention and management strategies for hypertension among women with histories of abuse.

Keywords: intimate partner violence; non-partner sexual violence; rape exposure; gender-based violence; hypertension (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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