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. 2010 Apr;14(2):318-27.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-009-9623-1.

HIV sexual risk behavior among low-income women experiencing intimate partner violence: the role of posttraumatic stress disorder

Courtenay E Cavanaugh  1 , Nathan B Hansen, Tami P Sullivan
Affiliations

HIV sexual risk behavior among low-income women experiencing intimate partner violence: the role of posttraumatic stress disorder

Courtenay E Cavanaugh et al. AIDS Behav. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder resulting from intimate partner violence (IPV-related PTSD), drug problems, and alcohol problems were tested as correlates of women's sexual risk behavior. Participants were 136 low-income women experiencing physical violence by a male partner during the past 6 months. Sexual risk behavior was assessed by whether women had unprotected sex with a risky primary partner (i.e., HIV-positive, injection drug user, and/or nonmonogamous), unprotected sex with a risky nonprimary partner (i.e. HIV-positive or unknown status), or traded sex during the past 6 months. Nearly one in five women engaged in these recent sexual risk behaviors. Simultaneous logistic regression results revealed IPV-related PTSD, but not drug or alcohol problems, was significantly associated with sexual risk behavior while controlling for childhood abuse and demographic covariates. Women with IPV-related PTSD had four times greater odds of recent sexual risk behavior compared to women without IPV-related PTSD. Implications for HIV prevention interventions are discussed.

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