title: Patterns of Violence Exposure and Sexual Risk in Low-Income, Urban African American Girls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the relationship between violence exposure and sexual risk-taking among low-income, urban African American (AA) adolescent girls, considering overlap among different types and characteristics of violence.
  
  
  METHODS
  AA adolescent girls were originally recruited from outpatient mental health clinics serving urban, mostly low-SES communities in Chicago, IL as part of a two-year longitudinal investigation of HIV-risk behavior. A subsequent follow-up was completed to assess lifetime history of trauma and violence exposure. The current study (N=177) included violence exposure and sexual risk behavior reported at the most recent interview (ages 14-22). Multiple regression was used to examine combined and unique contributions of different types, ages, settings, and perpetrators or victims of violence to variance in sexual risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More extensive violence exposure and cumulative exposure to different kinds of violence were associated with overall unsafe sex, more partners, and inconsistent condom use. The most significant unique predictors, accounting for overlap among different forms of violence, were physical victimization, adolescent exposure, neighborhood violence, and violence involving dating partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings put sexual risk in the context of broad traumatic experiences but also suggest that the type and characteristics of violence exposure matter in terms of sexual health outcomes. Violence exposure should be addressed in efforts to reduce STIs among low-income, urban African American girls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
authors.forename: Helen W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina.
authors.forename: Briana A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Institute for Juvenile Research (IJR) and Community Outreach Intervention Projects (COIP), University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.affiliation: IJR and COIP, University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: Geri R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Donenberg
keywords: African American girls; adolescents; sexual risk behavior; violence exposure