HIV risk-behavior in poor urban women with serious mental disorders: association with childhood physical and sexual abuse

Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1998 Jan;68(1):73-83. doi: 10.1037/h0080272.

Abstract

Associations between childhood sexual and physical abuse and HIV-related risky behavior were examined among low-income, urban women with severe mental disorders. Early sexual abuse was found to be related to adult sexual and physical assault, alcohol and cocaine abuse, and prostitution; childhood physical abuse was related to adult physical assault and alcohol abuse. Findings highlight the importance of making HIV risk-reduction programs a part of integrated services that address a full range of psychosocial needs.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Child Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Survivors / psychology
  • Urban Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Women's Health*