Incidence and Correlates of Physical Violence Among HIV-Infected Women at Risk For Pregnancy in the Southeastern United States

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2002

Abstract

To identify the incidence and correlates of physical and sexual violence among HIV-infected women at risk for pregnancy, a cross-sectional examination was conducted within a longitudinal study of reproductive decision making. Participants consisted of 275 HIV-infected women 17 to 49 years of age (mean = 30.1 years). Women were predominantly African American (87%) and single (82%), with annual incomes of $10,000 or less (66%). Overall, 68% of the women reported experiencing lifetime physical and/or sexual violence. Before becoming HIV infected, 65% of the women reported having been physically or sexually abused. After HIV diagnosis, 33% of the women reported experiencing physical or sexual abuse. Women reporting greater violence were more likely to disclose their HIV-seropositive status to their sex partner. Using logistic regression, greater intent to get pregnant (odds ratio [OR] = 0.933), decreased present life satisfaction (OR = 1.048), having three or more children (OR = 0.474), and history of drug use (OR = 0.794) significantly distinguished between women who reported physical and/or sexual violence and those who did not.

Journal Title

Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care

Journal ISSN

1055-3290

Volume

13

Issue

2

First Page

46

Last Page

58

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/S1055-3290(06)60200-8

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