The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3214.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - 12:45 PM

Abstract #43568

Relationship between Intimate Partner Violence, HIV, and Mental Health among Low Income Urban Women

Andrea C. Gielen, ScD, ScM, CHES, Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, HH-750, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410/955-2397, agielen@jhsph.edu, Karen A. McDonnell, PhD, Maternal and Child Health, George Washington University School of Public Health, 2175 K Street Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037, Patricia O'Campo, PhD, Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltmore, MD 21205, and Jessica Griffin Burke, MHS, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with mental health sequelae, yet little is known about the needs of low income, urban women or HIV-positive women. This research describes the IPV experiences and mental health needs of a large sample of low income, urban women, and examines whether the relationship between IPV and mental health indicators varies by HIV status. We recruited HIV-positive women and a demographically similar sample of HIV- negative women from clinic and community sites in Baltimore MD. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) was used to measure current IPV for 445 women (188 HIV-positive, 257 HIV-negative). Mental health indicators were assessed with the Mental Health scale (MH) of the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Scale (CES-D) for depression, suicidality items, and mental health services utilization items. Rates of IPV were high in this sample and did not differ by HIV status: 62% experienced psychological, physical, and/or sexual abuse; 44% experienced frequent abuse (>13 events); and 29% suffered an injury. HIV-positive women had significantly higher scores on the CES-D (16.74 vs 12.2.4) and lower scores on the MH scale (65.72 vs 71.60) adjusted for current abuse, age and income. Results will also be presented from similar analyses of suicidality and use of mental health services. IPV is a ubiquitous problem for low income urban women. HIV positive women seem to be more severely impacted with mental health problems. Universal screening for IPV and enhanced mental health services for women living with HIV are needed.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

Keywords: Mental Health, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Preventing AIDS/HIV: Are Women Free to Protect Themselves?

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA