VIOLENCE AND HIV SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG FEMALE SEX PARTNERS OF MALE DRUG-USERS

Objective: Violence and HIV are emerging as interconnected public heal th hazards among drug users and their families. The purposes of this s tudy are to (1) determine the prevalence of sexual and physical abuse of non-drug-using female sex :partners of male drug users, and (2) asc ertain the association between such violence and HIV-related risk beha viors. Methods: From 11/93 to 11/95, 208 female sex partners of inject ion drug or crack use:rs in Collier County, FL, Tucson, AZ, and Portla nd, OR, were interviewed as part of a NIDA-funded HIV risk reduction p roject. Their mean age was 30 years (range 18-54); 21% were White, 6% African American, 7% Native American, and 63% Hispanic. Results: Of th e 208 women, 28% reported being sexually molested and 20% raped before age 13; 41% reported being raped at least once in their lifetime. For ty-two percent of the women were physically assaulted by their sex par tners; 36% had been threatened with assault by their sex partners. Tho se who were raped or threatened with assault were more likely to have multiple sex partners and engage in unprotected anal sex; there was a trend for women who had been physically assaulted to be more likely to engage in unprotected anal sex. Discussion Rape, assault and the thre at of assault are commonplace in the histories of female sex partners of male drug users. Experiences of violence and threats of violence ar e associated with heightened risk for the sexual transmission of HIV. Providers of HIV prevention need to understand the sequelae of violenc e, and design interventions which empower women to protect themselves from sexual transmission of HIV.