Intimate partner violence and other partner-related factors: correlates of sexually transmissible infections and risky sexual behaviours among young adult African American women.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence and other partner-related factors have been associated with acquiring sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and engaging in risky sexual behaviour. The present study examined partner-related risk factors for STIs and risky sexual behaviours among an urban sample of African American women.

METHODS: African American women, between 18 and 29 years (n = 848), participated in the study at baseline. Participants completed a 40-min Audio Computer Assisted Survey Interview assessing sociodemographics, partner-related factors and HIV/STI-associated sexual risk behaviours. Subsequently, participants provided two vaginal swab specimens for STIs.

RESULTS: The findings indicated that risky sexual behaviours and STIs were prevalent in this sample: 35.6% reported a risky sexual partner, 65.4% reported inconsistent condom use and 17% tested positive for a laboratory-confirmed STI. Women reporting a history of intimate partner violence were more likely to report risky sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.5-2.8), inconsistent condom use (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.1-2.3) and test positive for an STI (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 0.99-2.1). Women reporting high partner-related barriers to condom use were more likely to report risky sexual partners (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.2-2.3), inconsistent condom use (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.5-3.0) and test positive for an STI (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.3-3.0). Finally, women with older partners were more likely to report risky sexual partners (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.1-2.1) and test positive for an STI (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.0-2.2).

CONCLUSIONS: This study examines partner-related risk factors for STIs and risky sexual behaviours among African American women. These findings underscore the need for combined intimate partner violence and HIV/STI prevention programs for this disproportionately affected high-risk group.