Childhood sexual abuse as an HIV risk factor in women
Denenberg, R.
Gmhc Treatment Issues the Gay Men's Health Crisis Newsletter of Experimental Aids Therapies 11(7-8): 22-24
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1077-1824 PMID: 11364647 Document Number: 481548
Sexual abuse has devastating effects on women and girls, and has been shown to be a significant factor in further abuse or in risky sexual behavior. Several researchers have written of a link between abuse and HIV infection, and the large HIV Epidemiology Research Study (HERS) and the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) confirm these findings. Childhood sexual abuse is emerging as a primary risk factor in HIV infection, and physical violence is a major risk factor in HIV mortality. Childhood sexual abuse may also lead to less satisfactory patient-doctor relationships in individuals who have historically withheld information from their health care providers. Guidelines are included for dealing with patients who have been sexually traumatized in the past.