title: Intimate partner violence is linked to less HIV testing uptake among high-risk, HIV-negative women in Atlanta.
abstract: Increased risk of HIV acquisition among intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors underscores the need for regular HIV testing, but IPV-associated shame, stigma, and control may hinder uptake. Between March and November 2014, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 79 HIV-negative, high-risk women aged 18-50 in Atlanta, Georgia, to explore whether IPV experience was associated with less uptake of HIV testing, and fewer motivations and more reported barriers to HIV testing uptake. Psychological and physical and/or sexual abuse was significantly associated with less past-year HIV testing (p = .022 and p = .030, respectively), longer time since last HIV test (r = 0.282, p = .012, and r = 0.282, p = .012, respectively), and more reported barriers to HIV testing (r = 0.406, p = .004, and r = 0.389, p = .006). While requiring further validation, these preliminary findings suggest IPV survivors need additional support to access HIV testing services.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family Medicine , University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Ogechukwu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Etudo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences , School of Nursing and Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Metheny
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences , School of Nursing and Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.|c Department of Global Health , Emory University Rollins School of Public Health , Atlanta , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.affiliation: c Department of Global Health , Emory University Rollins School of Public Health , Atlanta , GA , USA.|d Division of Infectious Diseases , Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta , Georgia , USA.
authors.forename: Ameeta S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kalokhe
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D000074386:Gender-Based Violence; D005845:Georgia; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012752:Shame; D057545:Social Stigma; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV; HIV testing; Intimate partner violence; gender-based violence; violence against women