Recent Partner Violence, Sexual Relationship Power, and STIs among Women Who Use Methamphetamine: Does Type of Sexual Partner Matter?

The objective of our study was to examine the association of recent PV and SRP on STIs by partner type among HIV-negative, heterosexual women who use methamphetamine in San Diego, CA. Using baseline survey data from 209 women enrolled in FASTLANE II, an HIV behavioral intervention trial, we conducted logistic regression analyses to examine associations between PV, SRP, and self-reported lifetime STIs (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea). Models focused on PV perpetrated within the past 2  months by: (1) spouse, live-in, or steady sexual partners and (2) casual or anonymous sexual partners. Seventy-eight percent of women reported lifetime physical PV and 57% reported lifetime sexual PV. In the past 2 months, 19.6% reported physical and/or sexual violence by a spouse, live-in, or st eady sexual partner, and 7.2% reported physical and/or sexual PV by a casual or anonymous partner. Median SRP score was 2.36 (interquartile range: 2.02–2.68). Twenty-six percent of women reported ever being diagnosed with ≥ 1 STI. While recent physical violence and sexual violence were not ass ociated with STI history among women in steady relationships, women who reported recent sexual violence by casual/anonymous partners were approximately 8 times more likely to ever have an STI compared with those with no history of recent PV by casual/anonymous partners (AOR: 7.70; 95% CI: 1.32, 44.8 4). SRP was not associated with lifetime STIs among women who reported either partner type. Our findings support...
Source: Journal of Urban Health - Category: Health Management Source Type: research