Ralph J. DiClemente

Identifying the prevalence and correlates of STDs among women residing in rural domestic violence shelters.

ABSTRACT The present study uses a cross-sectional study design to assess the prevalence and abuse-related correlates of STDs among women (n = 203) residing in rural and nonurban domestic violence shelters, a venue in which health care providers could intervene by providing STD prevention counseling, diagnosis and treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the prevalence and correlates of self-reported STDs among women residing in domestic violence shelters. In this sample, 99% of women reported being physically abused in the prior 2 months, 55% reported being sexually abused and 43% reported being raped. Further, 33% of women reported acquiring an STD during their abusive relationship, 13.3% reported acquiring multiple STDs and 9.2% reported acquiring an STD in the 2 months prior to entering the shelter. In this sample having a history of rape, having an unfaithful partner and fear negotiating condom use were all associated with having an STD history. Coordinating STD services with domestic violence shelters could reach a high-risk population that is not traditionally targeted by STD programs, could increase early detection of STDs, may increase access to and improve the quality of STD-related care, particularly among rural populations, and could be cost-effective.

HIV Prevention for Heterosexual African-American Women

Early in the epidemic, HIV infection and AIDS were diagnosed among relatively few women and female adolescents. Currently, women account for more than 25% of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Historically, African-American women have been disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. In 2002, the most recent year for which data are available, HIV infection was the leading cause of death for African-American women 25–34 years old; the third leading cause of death for African-American women aged 35–44 years old and the fourth leading cause of death for African-American women 45–54 years old. In this same year, HIV infection was the fifth leading cause of death among all women 35–44 years of age and the six leading cause of death among all women aged 25–34 year old. The only diseases causing more death of women were cancer and heart disease (Anderson & Smith, 2005).