Adverse consequences of intimate partner abuse among women in non-urban domestic violence shelters

Objective: This study examined the health consequences of having experience d both sexual and physical abuse relative to women experiencing physical ab use but not sexual abuse. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 women seeking refu ge in battered women's shelters. Controlling for sociodemographics, logisti c regression analyses were conducted to assess the consequences of experien cing both sexual and physical abuse. Results: Compared to women experiencing physical abuse, women experiencing both sexual and physical abuse were more likely to have a history of multip le sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in their abusive relationships, hav e had an STD in the past 2 months, be worried about being infected with HIV , use marijuana and alcohol to cope, attempt suicide, feel as though they h ad no control in their relationships, experience more episodes of physical abuse in the past 2 months, rate their abuse as more severe, and be physica lly threatened by their partner when they asked that condoms be used. Conclusions: Given the prevalence of adverse health outcomes, domestic viol ence shelters could counsel women to avoid using alcohol/drugs as a coping strategy, educate women about alternative healthy coping strategies, counse l women about methods of STD prevention that they can control, and provide STD screening and treatment.