Intimate partner violence perpetration against main female partners among HIV-positive male injection drug users.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a serious public health and social problem and is associated with a host of adverse health outcomes and behaviors, HIV risk behaviors included, among women who are victimized. Historically, research has focused on correlates of IPV victimization among women; thus, there is less information on the role of men in perpetrating IPV, particularly among men at risk for transmitting HIV to their female partners. We assessed the self-reported prevalence and correlates of perpetration and threat of perpetration of physical and/or sexual IPV against a main female partner among 317 HIV-positive men who were current injection drug users (IDUs). More than 40% of men reported perpetrating physical (39%) and/or sexual (4%) violence against their main female partners in the past year. Multivariate analyses revealed that low education, homelessness, psychologic distress, and unprotected sex with main and nonmain HIV-negative female partners were positively associated with IPV perpetration against main female partners. These findings reveal that IPV perpetration is prevalent among HIV-positive male IDUs and associated with sexual HIV transmission risk behaviors. IPV assessment and treatment among HIV-positive men in HIV care is recommended as a way to prevent IPV perpetration and victimization and to reduce potential HIV transmission.
Frye
Victoria
V
Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. vfrye@nyam.org
Latka
Mary H
MH
Wu
YingFeng
Y
Valverde
Eduardo E
EE
Knowlton
Amy R
AR
Knight
Kelly R
KR
Arnsten
Julia H
JH
O'Leary
Ann
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology