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HIV, STI interventions should address partner abuse
Teitelman AM. ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2011;34:243-259.
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Partner abuse was the most common reason stated among 46% of black adolescent females who reported not using a condom during the last time they had sex, according to findings from a University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing study.
“Promoting healthy relationships among youth and preventing partner abuse in adolescent relationships should become a public health priority. This is necessary for primary prevention of the dual and intersecting epidemics of partner abuse and HIV and sexually transmitted infections,” Anne M. Teitelman, PhD, CRNP, assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, said in a press release.
Teitelman and colleagues assessed condom use among 64 black females aged 14 to 17 years at family planning or prenatal clinics across poor urban areas with high rates of HIV and partner abuse. Surveys were administered on demographic and health information, partner abuse and sexual risk. Participants were invited to participate in focus groups to assess beliefs on condom use in healthy and unhealthy relationships.
According to the researchers, one-third of participants reported having experienced all three forms of partner abuse: Physical, verbal and threatening abuse — 59% of girls experienced at least one form of abuse.
Twenty-seven percent of participants reported having vaginal sex and 9% reported having anal sex when they did not want to. Approximately 53% reported vaginal sex and 6% reported anal sex without a condom when they wanted their partner to use one (condom coercion). Another 25% reported they were unable to discuss condom use with their partner (self-silencing of condom negotiation).
“Findings from this study suggest HIV infection and STI prevention interventions for urban adolescent girls attending publicly funded reproductive health clinics should address the various types of condom coercion and foster ways for girls to safely and/or selectively negotiate for condom use in relationships when encountering partner resistance that could range from subtle manipulation to overt abuse,” the researchers wrote. “Such interventions should also cover identifying types of partner abuse and how to safely end a controlling or abusive relationship.”
Disclosure: This research was supported by National Institute of Mental Health grant 1K01MH080649-01A1 and the University of Pennsylvania: Center for AIDS Research and Institute for Urban Research.
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