338386
Role of Childhood Violence Exposure, Self-esteem and Depressive Symptoms on Consistent Contraception Use among Young, Sexually Active Women
Study Design: Eligible women were recruited from Temple University family planning clinics in 2013 and were followed for 9-months to longitudinally identify factors contributing to the type and consistency of contraception use. Women were re-contacted 9-months later to assess their level of sexual activity, and the type/consistency of contraception use.
Results: Childhood sexual violence, low self-esteem, high depressive symptoms, and consistently high levels of depressive symptoms from baseline to follow-up were significantly related to reports of inconsistent/no contraception use over the follow-up period. Given the strong correlation between self-esteem and depressive symptoms, a factor analysis was conducted. Exposure to childhood sexual violence and the factor incorporating high depressive symptoms and low self-esteem were significantly and independently related to inconsistent/no contraception use over the 9 month follow-up period (aOR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.03-3.55 and aOR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.01-1.59 respectively).
Conclusions We found a strong relation between exposure to childhood sexual violence and inconsistent/no contraception use. These findings note the importance of trauma-informed approaches targeting increases in self-esteem and reductions in depressive symptoms may be most effective in improving consistent contraception use among young women.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsPublic health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Define the long-term consequences of exposure to childhood sexual violence. Describe the measurement of community violence. Analyze the predictors of inconsistent contraception use among young women. Assess the need for trauma-informed approaches targeting increases in self-esteem and reductions in depressive symptoms to increase consistent contraception use.
Keyword(s): Violence & Injury Prevention, STDs/STI
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Director of the Maternal and Child Health Wellness laboratory and an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health at Temple University. I am a reproductive epidemiologist with NIH-funded research focusing on early pregnancy exposures and adverse pregnancy and reproductive outcomes. I examines BV, STDs, violence, and behavioral factors which influence adverse outcomes including SPTB, miscarriage, and unintended pregnancy.
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.