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Abstract #152268

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Joanne Pavao, MPH¹, Jennifer Alvarez, PhD¹, Joan Chow, MPH, DrPH², Nikki Baumrind, PhD, MPH³, and Rachel Kimerling, PhD¹. (1) National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, PTSD-334, Menlo Park, CA 94025, 650-493-5000 ext 23281, joanne.pavao@va.gov, (2) Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, CA DHS Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Branch, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, Bldg. P, 2nd Floor, Richmond, CA 94804-6403, (3) California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 1515 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Background: Studies indicate that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are associated with exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV); therefore practice guidelines recommend that physicians screen all patients for recent IPV. Lifetime history of interpersonal violence and current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are correlated with IPV and may also be especially frequent among women with STDs.

Objective: To examine the relationship between exposure to lifetime interpersonal violence, PTSD symptoms, and self-reported Chlamydia (CT) diagnosis.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of population-based random-digit-dial survey of California women aged 18-44 (N=3,021). Participants were asked about exposure to sexual or physical abuse in childhood or adulthood, IPV, and PTSD symptoms. Logistic regressions were used to assess the association of interpersonal violence and past CT diagnosis adjusted for race/ethnicity.

Results: Forty-two percent of women reported a history of physical/sexual abuse or IPV. Women who reported exposure to any interpersonal violence were over three times more likely than women who did not report exposure to violence to report a past diagnosis of CT (AOR=3.24, 95%CI =2.40–4.36). Women reporting IPV were more likely to report a CT diagnosis than women who did not report IPV (AOR=2.19, 95%CI=1.56–3.09). Women who reported PTSD symptoms were significantly more likely to report a CT diagnosis (AOR=2.30, 95%CI=1.55–3.42).

Conclusions: The associations between past sexual/physical abuse, IPV, and PTSD and past CT diagnosis support expanding current recommendations to assess history of interpersonal violence, in addition to recent IPV, among women seeking care and targeting these women for STD screening and risk reduction counseling.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Understand the association of different forms of interpersonal violence with self-reported Chlamydia diagnosis
• 2. Discuss the importance of screening for interpersonal violence among STD patients
• 3. Recognize good screening techniques and scales for the assessment of interpersonal violence

Keywords: Domestic Violence, STD

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Audio (mp3) recording
• Slides (pdf) or Handout