Physical and sexual violence and incident sexually transmitted infections

Authors

Jenifer E. Allsworth, Washington University in St. Louis
Mallika Anand, Washington University in St. Louis
Colleen A. Redding, University of Rhode Island
Jeffrey F. Peipert, Washington University in St. Louis

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

4-1-2009

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether women aged 13-35 who were victims of interpersonal violence were more likely than nonvictims to experience incident sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Methods: We examined 542 women aged 13-35 enrolled in Project PROTECT, a randomized clinical trial that compared two different methods of computer-based intervention to promote the use of dual methods of contraception. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire that included questions about their history of interpersonal violence and were followed for incident STIs over the 2-year study period. We compared the incidence of STIs in women with and without a history of interpersonal violence using bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression. Results: In the bivariate analyses, STI incidence was found to be significantly associated with African American race/ethnicity, a higher number of sexual partners in the past month, and a lower likelihood of avoidance of sexual partners who pressure to have sex without a condom. In both crude and adjusted regression analyses, time to STI incidence was faster among women who reported physical or sexual abuse in the year before study enrollment (HRR adj = 1.68, 95% CI 1.06, 2.65). Conclusions: Women with a recent history of abuse are at significantly increased risk of STI incidence than are nonvictims. © 2009, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Women's Health

Volume

18

Issue

4

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Allsworth, Jenifer E., Mallika Anand, Colleen A. Redding, and Jeffrey F. Peipert. "Physical and sexual violence and incident sexually transmitted infections." Journal of Women's Health 18, 4 (2009): 529-534. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2007.0757.