Citation

Holmes WC. J. Adolesc. Health 1997; 20(6): 414-419.

Affiliation

Division of General Internal Medicine, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6021, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S1054-139X(96)00278-9

PMID

9178077

Abstract

PURPOSE: Examine whether an association exists between having a sexual abuse history and having a psychoactive substance use disorder (PSUD) history in a population of HIV seropositive men. METHODS: Survey study of 95 HIV seropositive men. Sociodemographic and sexual abuse histories obtained before administration of the Standardized Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID-NP-HIV)-used to identify PSUD. RESULTS: Nineteen (20%) subjects had sexual abuse histories. Sexual abuse occurred early (mean age: 8.1 years). Ten (53%) subjects reported oral (n = 4) and/or anal (n = 9) penetration by perpetrator. Comparing men with histories of sexual abuse to men without, the odds ratio (OR) for subsequent injection drug use was 5.4 (1.5, 19.6), and for subsequent early (before age 20) injection drug use was 21.6 (3.4, 224.5). Adjusted ORs were 2.4 (0.55, 10.6) and 12.2 (1.7, 90.3), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of HIV seropositive men, an association between having been sexually abused and subsequently initiating injection drug use during adolescence exists. Future studies that more rigorously evaluate the possible causal nature of this association are indicated.

Language: en