Nelson WL, Ferrando SJ, Stanislawski DM, Garcia PM; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 429 (abstract no. Th.D.5164).

Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA. Fax: (312) 908-0367.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and relationships among childhood trauma (sexual, physical, and emotional abuse), substance abuse, distress, and HIV symptoms in a cohort of HIV-infected women. Method: Forty HIV+ women seeking care from a Chicago medical center women's HIV clinic were interviewed to ascertain childhood trauma history, lifetime substance use history, psychological distress, and self-reported HIV symptoms. Medical records were reviewed for CD4 count, CDC disease classification, and antiretroviral therapy. Results: The cohort comprised 24 (60%) white, 11 (27.5%) black, and 5 (12.5%) hispanic women between 21 and 54 years of age (M=34 years) who acquired HIV primarily through heterosexual contact (60%) or intravenous drug use (35%). Median CD4 count was 308 cells/cu mm (range: 4-826). Thirty-two percent of the women had AIDS and 57% were receiving antiretroviral therapy. A trauma history was reported by 38 (95%) women: 63% reported sexual abuse, 70% reported physical abuse, 65% reported emotional abuse, and 65% reported multiple forms of abuse. Fifty-three percent were currently using street drugs and 48% had injected drugs at some time in their lives. Current drug users scored significantly higher than non-drug users on measures of depression (t=2.83;p is less than .01), psychological distress (t=3.50;p is less than .01), and HIV symptom severity (t=3.71;p is less than .01). They were less likely to attend their medical appointments [X2(1,40)=4.91,p is less than .05] and less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy [X2(1,40)=6.81,p is less than .01] than non-drug users. Compared to non-drug users, current drug users were less likely to have custody of their children [X2(1,34)=4.25,p is less than .05] and more likely to have made a suicide attempt in childhood [X2(1,40)=6.53,p is less than .05]. Childhood suicide was associated with sexual abuse [X2(1,40)=6.22,p is less than .05] and intravenous drug use [X2(1,40)=8.82,p is less than .01]. Conclusions: The high prevalence of trauma, drug use, and distress in our population underscores the need to address these issues, regardless of the route of acquisition of HIV or HIV illness status. The association between current drug use and poorer physical and psychological functioning suggests that chemical dependence treatment be an integral part of comprehensive care for HIV-infected women.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Chicago
• Child
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Mental Disorders
• Prevalence
• Substance Abuse, Intravenous
• Substance-Related Disorders
• Suicide, Attempted
• Violence
• injuries

Other ID:

• 96925413

UI: 102221312

From Meeting Abstracts