title: Double trouble: violent and non-violent traumas among women at sexual risk of HIV infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines the association between trauma and HIV risk behaviors among women at sexual risk for HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April to August 1998, high-risk HIV negative women were recruited in the South Bronx into a year-long cohort study. At the 12-month visit, 116 women were interviewed face-to-face about recent and lifetime violent and non-violent traumas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women reported a substantial prevalence of sexual risk behaviors associated with the acquisition of HIV. At baseline, almost two-thirds (64%) reported unprotected vaginal sex in the previous six months, and in the previous year, 62% had smoked crack, 52% reported sex-for-money-or-drugs exchanges, and 47% had five or more male sex partners. The lifetime prevalence of trauma was high: 81% had experienced one or more violent traumas and 97% had experienced one or more non-violent traumas. Women who had experienced violent trauma--physical assault by a partner (OR = 2.88; 95% CI 1.12; 7.41)--and those who had experienced non-violent trauma--loss of a child to foster care (OR = 3.34; 95% CI 1.04; 10.65)--were more likely to use crack than others. Those who had experienced non-violent trauma, by witnessing a physical assault (OR = 2.31; 95% CI 0.99; 5.40), were also more likely than others to have exchanged sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both violent and non-violent traumas appear to play a role in the behaviors that place women at risk of HIV infection, particularly using crack and exchanging sex.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center, New York, USA. pbrownpeterside@nybc.org
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brown-Peterside
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chiasson
authors.forename: Beryl A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Koblin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D014504:Urban Health; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D016387:Women's Health