title: Is sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence a predisposing factor for HIV infection during adolescence?
abstract: This exploratory study was conducted to determine whether sexual abuse might be a risk factor or marker for other risk factors for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Twenty-five HIV-positive adolescents were assessed for a variety of possible risk factors for HIV infection, including prior history of sexual abuse. Fifteen (60%) had a history of sexual abuse. A history of sexual abuse may be a risk factor for HIV infection directly, or it may be associated with or predispose one to other risk factors. The latter mechanism may be related to the long-term negative outcomes of some individuals with a history of sexual abuse. These may include same-sex sexual experiences as an adolescent, re-victimization with additional episodes of abuse, multiple consensual sexual partners, and drug and/or alcohol abuse. Preventive interventions aimed at reducing the risk of HIV infection must take a history of sexual abuse into account. Patients with such a history deserve intensive psychological counseling to help prevent adverse behavioral outcomes that can result in HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior