270773 ‘I got tired of him being locked up. I need attention': A longitudinal qualitative study investigating relationship trajectories of women with incarcerated partners and risk of HIV/STDs

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Bethany Caruso, MPH , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Venita Embry , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Claire Clark, MA , Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Decatur, GA
Terrika Barham, MPH , Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Hannah LF Cooper, ScD, SM , Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Background: Incarceration rates have increased significantly since the 1970s and have disproportionately affected African-American men. Few studies have explored the health impacts of incarceration for inmates' romantic partners. Research suggests that women have difficulty maintaining relationships with incarcerated partners, and may start new partnerships to meet financial and emotional needs. Purpose: This analysis identifies factors that influence the initiation of new sexual partnerships among African-American women with incarcerated partners and explores how these partnerships affect the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Methods: African-American women (N=32) with recently incarcerated partners participated in this longitudinal qualitative study. Over the course of eleven months, each woman participated in four one-on-one, semi-structured interviews. Grounded Theory guided analysis of women's relationship trajectories with both incarcerated and new partners, and analyses of safer sex strategies. Results: Preliminary results suggest incarceration-related factors—such as communication difficulties, sentence duration, and financial burdens—may impact relationship quality between the woman and her incarcerated partner. Many women reported beginning new relationships to meet financial or instrumental needs. However, their ability to negotiate relationship terms and safer sex strategies in the face of these needs may have increased their HIV/STD risk. Additionally, women's view of their new sexual relationships as temporary or long-term also seems to influence safer sex practices. Discussion: Few resources are available for women whose partners have been incarcerated. These preliminary analyses suggest that women with recently-incarcerated partners need services that promote sexual health and linkage to entitlements and other financial supports.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. By the end of the session, the participant will be able to identify the types of relationship trajectories of women with incarcerated partners that increase their vulnerability to HIV/STDs. 2. By the end of the session, the participant will be able to assess the strengths and limitations of grounded theory as a research approach.

Keywords: Incarceration, Women and HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I worked as research staff on this longitudinal, qualitative study. In this capacity, I formulated research questions, analyzed data, and helped edited the presentation of results.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

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