title: Correlates of lifetime trauma exposure among pregnant women from Cape Town, South Africa.
abstract: A cross-sectional survey of 298 pregnant women from Cape Town, South Africa was conducted to examine socio-demographic, reproductive health, mental health, and relationship correlates of lifetime trauma exposure and whether these correlates vary as a function of age. Overall, 19.8% of participants reported trauma exposure. We found similarities and differences in correlates of trauma exposure among women in emerging adulthood and older women. Prior termination of pregnancy was associated with trauma exposure in both age groups. Difficulties in resolving arguments, lifetime substance use, and a prior sexually transmitted infection were associated with trauma exposure among women in emerging adulthood. In contrast, depression and awareness of substance abuse treatment programmes were associated with trauma exposure among older women. These findings highlight the need for interventions that prevent and treat trauma exposure among vulnerable women. Such interventions should be tailored to address the correlates of trauma exposure in each age group.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: UNC Horizons Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Hendrée E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Irene A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Key
authors.affiliation: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Gillings Global School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Psychology in the Public Interest, North Carolina State University, North Carolina, USA; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Wendee M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wechsberg
keywords: South Africa; Trauma exposure; emerging adulthood; mental health; pregnant women