HIV sexual risk behavior among low-income women experiencing intimate partner violence: the role of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Posttraumatic stress disorder resulting from intimate partner violence (IPV-related PTSD), drug problems, and alcohol problems were tested as correlates of women's sexual risk behavior. Participants were 136 low-income women experiencing physical violence by a male partner during the past 6 months. Sexual risk behavior was assessed by whether women had unprotected sex with a risky primary partner (i.e., HIV-positive, injection drug user, and/or nonmonogamous), unprotected sex with a risky nonprimary partner (i.e. HIV-positive or unknown status), or traded sex during the past 6 months. Nearly one in five women engaged in these recent sexual risk behaviors. Simultaneous logistic regression results revealed IPV-related PTSD, but not drug or alcohol problems, was significantly associated with sexual risk behavior while controlling for childhood abuse and demographic covariates. Women with IPV-related PTSD had four times greater odds of recent sexual risk behavior compared to women without IPV-related PTSD. Implications for HIV prevention interventions are discussed.
Cavanaugh
Courtenay E
CE
Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 2213 McElderry Street, 4th Floor, M409, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. cocavana@jhsph.edu
Hansen
Nathan B
NB
Sullivan
Tami P
TP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult