Determinants of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing and Acquisition Among Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Syndemic Profiles for HIV, Hepatitis C, and Sextually Transmitted Infections Among Mexican American Women Formerly Affiliated with Youth Street Gangs

We examine syndemic profiles of intimate partner violence, mental health, drug use, incarceration, and infectious diseases (HIV, HCV, and STIs) among a sample of adult Mexican American women who were affiliated with youth street gangs during adolescence through their relationships to boys and men. Latent class analysis included multiple factors along the following dimensions: intimate partner violence, drug use, mental illness, and incarceration. Five unique syndemic profiles were found with varying associations to HIV, HCV, and STI: (1) no syndemic, (2) intimate partner violence, no syndemic, (3) drug use, mental health, and incarceration syndemic, (4) intimate partner violence, drug use (without injection drug use), and mental health syndemic, and (5) intimate partner violence, drug use with injection drug use, mental health, and incarceration syndemic. To successfully prevent HIV, HCV, and STI among gang-involved girls and women, it is necessary to address syndemic factors.

Why Young Women Who Use Opioids Are at Risk for Rape: The Impact of Social Vulnerabilities and Sexually Coercive Drug Using Contexts

This study tests a theoretically informed model to understand why women who use opioids (WWUO) are at risk of rape while using drugs. Structured interviews were conducted with 168 WWUO. Three domains were hypothesized to increase risk: the sexually coercive context of drug use, women's social vulnerability, and drug use severity. Logistic regression examined the odds of being raped by domain. One-third of WWUO had been raped while using drugs. The sexually coercive context and social vulnerability domains significantly increased women's odds of being raped. Prevention efforts should target social and contextual factors.

Desired Characteristics of HIV Testing and Counseling among Diverse Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Receiving Social Services

Despite recent calls to integrate HIV testing into social services addressing intimate partner violence (IPV), few studies have reported on survivors' perspectives regarding the desired characteristics of this integration. The purpose of this study was to describe desired characteristics of HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services from a survivor's perspective. A qualitative descriptive approach was taken to describe the perspectives of IPV survivors who may or may not have accessed this service. Four focus groups were conducted with a diverse sample of English and Spanish speakers (N = 25) who sought services through a family justice center and associated shelters. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using conventional content analysis. Three themes were identified, including (1) peace of mind; (2) interacting stigmas and traumas; and (3) making testing easy, comfortable, and tailored. The findings of this study have the potential to influence survivor-centered practices and policies regarding the integration of culturally informed HIV/STI and IPV services.

Depressive symptoms among children attending community based support in South Africa - pathways for disrupting risk factors

Children in Southern Africa are exposed to high rates of structural and family adversities. This study tests whether services from Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in South Africa can promote children's resilience against depression exposed to such adversities. Two linked longitudinal studies were conducted, comprising n = 1848 children aged 9 to 13 years. One group received CBO services, whilst the other (quasi-control) did not. Analyses used interaction terms in regression models to test for potential moderation effects of CBO attendance, and marginal effects models to interpret significant interactions. Two interaction effects were shown, demonstrating moderation effects of CBO attendance on common structural disadvantages. First, children exposed to community violence showed increased depression (contrast = 0.62 [95%CI 0.43, 0.82], p < .001), but this association was removed by CBO access (contrast = 0.07 [95%CI -0.28, 0.43], p = .682). Second, children living in informal housing showed increased depression (contrast = 0.63 [95%CI 0.42, 0.85], p < .001), however, this association was removed by CBO access (contrast = 0.01 [95%CI -0.55, 0.56], p = .977). CBO attendance is associated with fewer depressive symptoms, and can buffer against important structural adversities of poor housing and violence that are common in high HIV-prevalence areas. However, CBO attendance was not able to remove the increased psychosocial distress associated with some family-level vulnerabilities such as orphanhood and abuse. These findings highlight the centrality of CBO-provided psychosocial support for children in Southern Africa, and suggest areas for bolstering provision.

Pregnancy Coercion as a Risk Factor for HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young African American Women

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy coercion (PC), defined as a restriction of women's reproductive autonomy, may be associated with increased HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk. However, there are few empirical studies defining the association between PC and HIV risk, particularly among vulnerable African American women.

SETTING AND METHODS

African American women (N = 560), ages 17-24, completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview assessing PC prevalence and its association with HIV/STI risk. Women were screened for prevalent STIs using polymerase chain reaction assays. Multivariate logistic and linear regressions evaluated the association of PC and multiple HIV/STI risk-associated outcomes.

RESULTS

Women who had experienced PC in the last 3 months, relative to those not experiencing PC, were 78% more likely to test positive for an STI [adjusted odds ratio = 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10 to 2.90]. Among women who experienced PC, odds of noncondom use in their last sexual encounter were 3.45-fold greater relative to women not experiencing PC (95% CI = 1.55 to 7.85). Women who experienced PC had lower condom use intentions (coefficient, -1.31, P = 0.002), greater fear of condom negotiation, and perceived more barriers to condom use (coefficients, 3.89 and 5.74, respectively, both P < 0.001). Women who experienced PC had 1.98 (95% CI = 1.22 to 3.21) and 1.82 (95% CI = 1.09 to 3.04) odds of depression and HIV worry relative to women not experiencing PC.

CONCLUSION

Among African American women, PC was associated with a range of adverse sexual health outcomes and HIV/STI-related behaviors and attitudes. The findings underscore the need for promoting gender-equitable social norms in HIV prevention interventions.