Association between sexual violence and psychiatric morbidity among HIV positive women in South Africa.
This study examined the association between rape and psychiatric morbidity among recently diagnosed HIV-infected women in South-Africa. One hundred and five women attending an out-patient infectious disease clinic of the Department of Internal Medicine, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South-Africa participated in the study. Full medical as well as socio-demographic histories were obtained for each patient. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed with the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Life-time prevalence of rape among the women was 4.8%. A significant relationship was found between rape and (i) drug dependence (X2 = 40.77, P < 0.00), (ii) alcohol dependence (X2 = 14.37, P < 0.01), (iii) post traumatic stress disorder (X2 = 8.91, P < 0.02), and (iv) major depression (X2 = 4.57, P < 0.05). Women who were raped were more likely to be younger (t = 2.86, P < 0.05), Afrikaans-speaking (X2 = 7.39, P < 0.02), and unemployed (X2 = 6.42, P < 0.04). HIV positive women with a history of having been raped may experience a number of psychiatric disorders. As part of the comprehensive medical care of HIV, it is important that health workers assess past sexual abuse and current psychiatric symptoms.
MRC Unit on Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
B O
BO
Olley
N
N
Abrahams
D J
DJ
Stein
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*