Dissolution of primary intimate relationships during incarceration and associations with post-release STI/HIV risk behavior in a Southeastern city.
BACKGROUND
Incarceration is associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It may contribute to STI/HIV by disrupting primary intimate relationships that protect against high-risk partnerships.


METHODS
In an urban sample of men (N = 229) and women (N = 144) in North Carolina, we assessed how often respondents experienced the dissolution of a primary intimate relationship at the time of their own (among men) or their partner's (among women) incarceration. We then measured the association between dissolution of relationships during incarceration and STI/HIV-related risk behaviors.


RESULTS
Among men who had ever been incarcerated for 1 month or longer (N = 72), 43% (N = 31) had a marital or nonmarital primary partner at the time of the longest prior sentence. Among women, 22% (N = 31) had ever had a primary partner who had been incarcerated for 1 month or longer. Of men and women who were in a relationship at the time of a prior incarceration of 1 month or longer (N = 62), more than 40% of men and 30% of women reported that the relationship ended during the incarceration. In analyses adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and crack/cocaine use, loss of a partner during incarceration was associated with nearly 3 times the prevalence of having 2 or more new partners in the 4 weeks before the survey (prevalence ratio: 2.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-6.96).


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample, incarceration disrupted substantial proportions of primary relationships and dissolution of those relationships was associated with subsequent STI/HIV risk. The results highlight the need for further research to investigate the effects of incarceration on relationships and health.
Khan
Maria R
MR
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. mrkhan@umd.edu
Behrend
Lindy
L
Adimora
Adaora A
AA
Weir
Sharon S
SS
Tisdale
Caroline
C
Wohl
David A
DA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult