Citation

Decker MR, Silverman JG, Raj A. Pediatrics 2005; 116(2): e272-6.

Affiliation

Health and Division of Public Health Practice, Department of Society, Human Development, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. mdecker@hsph.harvard.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

10.1542/peds.2005-0194

PMID

16061580

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies demonstrate significant associations between dating-violence victimization and sexual risk behaviors among adolescent girls; however, a relationship between dating violence and actual sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV testing and diagnosis has yet to be investigated among a representative sample. The present study assesses associations between dating violence and STD/HIV testing and diagnosis among a representative sample of sexually active adolescent girls. METHODS: Data from 9th- to 12th-grade female students completing the 1999 and 2001 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Surveys and reporting having ever had sexual intercourse (N = 1641) were examined. Odds ratios for STD/HIV testing and diagnosis that were based on experiences of dating violence and adjusted for STD/HIV risk behaviors and demographics were calculated. RESULTS: More than one third (38.8%) of adolescent girls tested for STD or HIV and more than half (51.6%) of girls diagnosed with STD/HIV reported experiencing dating violence. Compared with nonabused girls, girls who experienced both physical and sexual dating violence were 3.0 times more likely to have been tested for STD and HIV, and 2.6 times more likely to report an STD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for STD/HIV risk behaviors, dating violence remains significantly associated with STD/HIV testing and diagnosis among sexually active adolescent girls.