Prevalence of childhood sexual abuse and physical trauma in an HIV-positive sample from the deep south.
We examined prevalence and predictors of trauma among HIV-infected persons in the Deep South using data from the Coping with HIV/AIDS in the Southeast (CHASE) study. Over 50% of CHASE participants were abused during their lives, with approximately 30% experiencing abuse before age 13, regardless of gender. Caregiver characteristics were associated with childhood abuse. Abuse is related to increases in high-HIV-risk activities. The findings help explain why people engage in such high-risk activities and can provide guidance in designing improved care and prevention messages.
Whetten
Kathryn
K
Center for Health Policy, Law, and Management, Department of Public Policy, the Health Inequalities Program, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Leserman
Jane
J
Lowe
Kristin
K
Stangl
Dalene
D
Thielman
Nathan
N
Swartz
Marvin
M
Hanisch
Laura
L
Van Scoyoc
Lynn
L