title: An examination of the path between recent sexual violence and sexually transmitted infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the most common infections in the United States and are particularly prevalent in survivors of sexual violence. The purpose of this study is to examine co-occurring risk factors for sexual violence and STIs including mental health, alcohol use, drug use, and multiple partners as intersecting pathways to STIs for women who experienced sexual abuse in the past year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analyses were conducted on cross-sectional data from women originally recruited as respondents for an epidemiologic survey funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Project CHOICES. The survey was administered to 2,672 women in six settings: A large, urban jail and residential alcohol and drug treatment facilities (Texas); a gynecology clinic (Virginia); two primary care clinics (Virginia and Florida); and media solicitation (Florida). Women were included in the current study if they were fertile, sexually active, and not pregnant or trying to get pregnant (n = 1,183). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the conceptual path model between sexual violence and STI occurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the SEM, there were no significant paths from mental health, alcohol severity, or drug use to STI occurrence contrary to the results of the initial bivariate analyses. Multiple sexual partners significantly mediated the relationship between sexual violence and STIs and between mental health and drug use and STIs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the importance of providing effective treatment to survivors of sexual violence, which includes addressing risky sexual behaviors to reduce STI occurrence.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work, Center for Social Work Research, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. vonsternberg@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: von Sternberg
authors.forename: Jodi Berger
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Jina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Learman
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Velasquez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence; D055815:Young Adult