Intimate partner violence and other partner-related factors: correlates of sexually transmissible infections and risky sexual behaviours among young adult African American women.
BACKGROUND
Intimate partner violence and other partner-related factors have been associated with acquiring sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and engaging in risky sexual behaviour. The present study examined partner-related risk factors for STIs and risky sexual behaviours among an urban sample of African American women.


METHODS
African American women, between 18 and 29 years (n = 848), participated in the study at baseline. Participants completed a 40-min Audio Computer Assisted Survey Interview assessing sociodemographics, partner-related factors and HIV/STI-associated sexual risk behaviours. Subsequently, participants provided two vaginal swab specimens for STIs.


RESULTS
The findings indicated that risky sexual behaviours and STIs were prevalent in this sample: 35.6% reported a risky sexual partner, 65.4% reported inconsistent condom use and 17% tested positive for a laboratory-confirmed STI. Women reporting a history of intimate partner violence were more likely to report risky sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.5-2.8), inconsistent condom use (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.1-2.3) and test positive for an STI (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 0.99-2.1). Women reporting high partner-related barriers to condom use were more likely to report risky sexual partners (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.2-2.3), inconsistent condom use (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.5-3.0) and test positive for an STI (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.3-3.0). Finally, women with older partners were more likely to report risky sexual partners (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.1-2.1) and test positive for an STI (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.0-2.2).


CONCLUSIONS
This study examines partner-related risk factors for STIs and risky sexual behaviours among African American women. These findings underscore the need for combined intimate partner violence and HIV/STI prevention programs for this disproportionately affected high-risk group.
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. pseth@cdc.gov
Puja
P
Seth
Jerris L
JL
Raiford
LaShun S
LS
Robinson
Gina M
GM
Wingood
Ralph J
RJ
Diclemente
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult