Citation

Mittal M, Senn TE, Carey MP. Sex. Transm. Dis. 2011; 38(6): 510-515.

Affiliation

From the *Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; and †Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318207f59b

PMID

21258269

PMCID

PMC3106110

Abstract

BACKGROUND:: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with a wide range of negative outcomes, including sexual risk behavior. This cross-sectional study explored mediators of the relationship between IPV and risky sexual behavior in 717 women recruited from a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic. METHODS:: Participants were recruited from a public STD clinic in upstate New York as part of a randomized controlled trial that was designed to evaluate several sexual risk reduction interventions. They completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview in a private room. RESULTS:: Among these women, 18% reported IPV in the past 3 months and 57% reported lifetime experience of IPV. Recent IPV was associated with greater sexual risk, as measured by more episodes of unprotected sex (overall and with a steady partner). Although IPV was associated with depressive symptoms and drug use before sex, these variables did not mediate the relationship between IPV and sexual risk behavior. CONCLUSIONS:: The results indicate that IPV is common among women who attend an STD clinic and warrants increased attention. Research is needed to better understand the pathways linking IPV and HIV risk in women, to optimize the design of effective interventions.

Language: en