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Emotional abuse linked to decline in cellular immunity among women with HIV
Exposure to emotional abuse by an intimate partner appeared to be associated with a faster rate of deterioration in markers of cellular immunity among young women with HIV, according to recent findings.
In the longitudinal study, researchers evaluated a dataset of 103 women with HIV, aged 15 to 26 years, enrolled in a cluster randomized trial of an HIV prevention behavior intervention. The participants’ mean CD4+ T-cell count at baseline was 567.6 (range 1,121-114).
The participants reported household food security, use of alcohol, marijuana, benzene, mandrax and other injected or noninjected drugs that classified them as those who had ever used drugs and those who had not used drugs. The researchers also gathered information on pregnancies and adverse childhood experiences that were divided into emotional neglect, emotional abuse and physical neglect/hardship. The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale measured depression.
The researchers used the WHO violence against women instrument to measure physical partner violence and sexual partner violence within the past year. They also evaluated emotional abuse, including instances of insult, belittlement, humiliation, threats, or intimidation. Respondents were asked whether they had been forced to have sex by a nonpartner. Mean follow-up was 1.3 years.
Associations were found between the extent of CD4 T-cell change and emotional abuse from a current partner at baseline (coefficient, –132.9; 95% CI, –196.4 to –69.4) and drug use (coefficient, –129.9; 95% CI, –238.7 to –21.2). No association was seen between the magnitude of CD4 T-cell change and other measures.
CD8 T-cell change also correlated with having experienced emotional abuse at baseline or before the first HIV-positive test (coefficient –178.4; 95% CI, –330.2 to –26.5).
According to the researchers, this study is among the first to demonstrate the impact of gender-based violence, including emotional abuse, on cellular immunity in women with HIV.
“It highlights the importance of attending to emotional abuse when studying the physiological impact of intimate partner violence experience and the mechanisms of its impact on women’s health,” the researchers wrote. – by Jen Byrne
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.