History of sexual trauma and recent HIV-risk behaviors of community-recruited substance using women.
This study examines whether substance using women exposed to a lifetime sexual trauma (n = 457) are distinguishable from substance using women exposed to non-sexual trauma (n = 275) in terms of demographics, psychopathology and high-risk sexual behaviors. Baseline data were collected from out-of-treatment substance using women enrolled in an HIV prevention study. Logistic regression analyses revealed that when demographics, psychopathology and lifetime indicators of sexual risk were assessed simultaneously, poor health, depression, antisocial personality disorder and lifetime sex-trading were associated with sexual trauma exposure. When these significant factors were controlled, the experience of sexual trauma predicted recent (past 4 month) high risk sexual behaviors such as higher than average sexual partners. Treatment efforts with women who have experienced a sexual trauma may be enhanced by the inclusion of assessments of physical and mental health needs as well as sexual risk awareness training.
Johnson
Sharon D
SD
School of Social Work, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 121 Bellerive Hall, One University Dr, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA. Sharon_Johnson@umsl.edu
Cottler
Linda B
LB
Ben Abdallah
Arbi
A
O'Leary
Catina Callahan
CC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult