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278647
Demographic and psychosocial factors associated with exposure to post-disaster sexual violence amongst haitian women living in post-earthquake camps
STUDY POPULATION/DATA: Using a cross-sectional design, female heads of households (N=541) were selected from a stratified random sample of 130,349 IDP registered households following the earthquake. The database was established through a partnership between an agency of the United Nations, a research organization and academic institution, who received endorsement from the Haitian Government to conduct this survey.
METHODS: Exposure to PDSV was measured using self-report, sisterhood method, neighborhood method, and combined measures. “Sisterhood” assumes women know about PDSV experienced by sisters and daughters. “Neighborhood” assumes women know about PDSV in tents within visual proximity. Multivariate logistic regression models were adjusted for age, co-habitation, pre/post relative poverty, parental status, self-esteem and depressive symptoms.
RESULTS: Preliminary findings show the combined measure produced an overall incidence of 6.7% exposed to PDSV; and respondents reported less about themselves (1.3%), daughters (0.2%), sisters (0.7%) yet more about neighbors (4.4%). In an adjusted model factors associated with a “neighborhood” report include older age (OR=1.03, p=0.04, 95%CI [1.00-1.07]), depressive symptoms (OR=1.12, p=0.005, 95% CI [1.03-1.21]) and worsened poverty (OR=1.06, p=0.02, 95%CI [1.00-1.11]); yet factors associated with a “sister” report are younger age (OR=0.91, p=0.05, 95% CI [0.83-0.99]).
RECOMMENDATIONS: Multiple measures that assess exposure to PDSV should be administered to female IDPs, with the collection of demographic and psychosocial information.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the incidence of post-disaster sexual violence amongst Haitian women living in post-earthquake camps
Evaluate the usefulness of the "neighborhood measure" in estimating exposure to post-disaster sexual violence
Evaluate the usefulness of the "sisterhood measure" in estimating exposure to post-disaster sexual violence
Evaluate the usefulness of the "self-report measure" in estimating exposure to post-disaster sexual violence
Examine demographic and psychosocial factors associated with the multiple types of measures
Keywords: Violence, Women's Sexuality
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator of the current study entitled, Post-Disaster Sexual Violence in Haiti. Amongst my scientific interests I have investigated the barriers to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis amongst female victims of sexual violence in Haiti.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.