title: An exploratory study of mental health and HIV risk behavior among drug-using rural women in jail.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rural women, particularly those in the criminal justice system, are at risk for HIV related to the increasing prevalence of injection drug use as well as limited services. Research on HIV risk correlates, including drug use and mental health, has primarily focused on urban women incarcerated in prisons. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine dual HIV risk by 3 different mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) among drug-using women in rural jails.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved random selection, screening, and face-to-face interviews with 136 women in 1 Appalachian state. Analyses focused on the relationship between mental health and HIV risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 80% of women self-reported symptoms of depression, and more than 60% endorsed symptoms consistent with anxiety and PTSD symptoms. Mental health significantly correlated with severity of certain types of drug use, as well as risky sexual activity. In addition, for women experiencing anxiety and PTSD, injection drug use moderated the relationship between mental health and risky sexual activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these rates of drug use, mental health problems, and the emergence of injection drug use in rural Appalachia, the need to explore the relationships between these issues among vulnerable and understudied populations, such as rural women, is critical. Because of service limitations in rural communities, criminal justice venues such as jails provide opportune settings for screening, assessment, and intervention for drug use, mental health, and HIV education and prevention. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors: College of Social Work, University of Kentucky.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Staton-Tindall
authors: Department of Behavioral Science, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky.
authors: Kathi L H
authors: KLH
authors: Harp
authors: Charlotte Counseling Center, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Minieri
authors: Department of Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Kentucky.
authors: Carrie
authors: C
authors: Oser
authors: Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky.
authors: J Matthew
authors: JM
authors: Webster
authors: Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Havens
authors: Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky.
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Leukefeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data