Types and Characteristics of Childhood Sexual Abuse: How Do They Matter in HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors among Women in Methadone Treatment in New York City?
BACKGROUND:
Childhood
sexual abuse (CSA) is often considered an important distal factor in HIV sexual
risk behaviors; however, there are limited and mixed findings regarding this
relationship among women experiencing substance use problems. In addition,
research with this population of women has yet to examine differences in
observed CSA-HIV sexual risk behaviors relationships by CSA type and
characteristics.
OBJECTIVES:
This
study examines relationships between CSA coding, type, and characteristics and
HIV sexual risk behaviors with main intimate partners among a random sample of
390 women in methadone treatment in New York City who completed individual
interviews with trained female interviewers.
RESULTS:
Findings
from logistic regression analyses indicate that CSA predicts substance use with
sexual activity, with variations by CSA coding, type, and characteristics;
however, the role of CSA is more limited than expected. Having a main partner
with HIV risk mediates some relationships between CSA and drinking four or more
drinks prior to sex. Intimate partner violence is the most consistent predictor
of sexual risk behaviors. Other salient factors include polysubstance use,
depression, social support, recent incarceration, relationship characteristics,
and HIV status.
CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE:
This
study contributes to understanding of relationships between CSA and HIV sexual
risk behaviors and key correlates associated with HIV sexual risk behaviors
among women in methadone treatment. It also highlights the complexity of
measuring CSA and its association with sexual risk behaviors and the importance
of comprehensive approaches to HIV prevention that address psychological, relational,
situational, and substance use experiences associated with sexual risk
behaviors among this population.
- 1 School of Social Policy & Practice , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.
- 2 Kent School of Social Work , University of Louisville , Louisville , Kentucky , USA.
- 3 Social Intervention Group, Columbia University , New York , New York , USA.
No comments:
Post a Comment