Event Website
https://publichealth.lsuhsc.edu/honorsday/2021/
Start Date
1-4-2024 9:00 AM
Description
Objective: To evaluate the association between community violence exposure and high-risk sexual behaviors among heterosexuals at high risk for HIV infection in New Orleans. Background: Multiple sex partners, condom-less vaginal and anal sex, and sex in exchange for drugs and money are high-risk sexual behaviors for HIV transmission. Previous literature among adolescents has found an association between community violence exposure and high-risk sexual behaviors. This association has not been thoroughly evaluated in adults. Our hypothesis is that a higher exposure to community violence will be associated with higher prevalences of high-risk sexual behaviors among adults. Methods: Data from the CDC’s National HIV Surveillance System were analyzed. Using respondent-driven sampling, heterosexuals at high-risk for HIV infection were interviewed about their demographics, community violence exposure and their sexual risk behaviors. Log-linked Poisson models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the associations between community violence exposure and high-risk sexual behaviors. Results: Among the 463 respondents, 83.7% were Black, 86.3% lived below the poverty level, and 21.1% reported high community violence exposure. After adjusting for potential confounders, community violence exposure (high vs. low) was found to be associated with multiple sex partners (aPR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03-1.47), any unprotected vaginal sex (aPR: 1.12., 95% CI 1.04-1.20), any unprotected anal sex (aPR: 1.67, 95% CI:1.17-2.39) and exchange sex for drugs or money (aPR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.14-2.82). Discussion: We found that higher levels of community violence exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors among heterosexual adults at high risk for HIV infections. Implications: Our study shows the relationship between community violence exposure and high-risk sexual behaviors may extend into adulthood. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to establish temporality and to examine potential mediators and moderators in this relationship.
Recommended Citation
Briggs, Erin N.; Rung, Ariane L.; Peters, Edward S.; and Robinson, William T., "Community Violence Exposure and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Heterosexuals at High Risk for HIV Infection in New Orleans" (2024). School of Public Health Delta Omega Honors Day Poster Sessions. 1.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/dohd/2021/2021/1
Community Violence Exposure and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Heterosexuals at High Risk for HIV Infection in New Orleans
Objective: To evaluate the association between community violence exposure and high-risk sexual behaviors among heterosexuals at high risk for HIV infection in New Orleans. Background: Multiple sex partners, condom-less vaginal and anal sex, and sex in exchange for drugs and money are high-risk sexual behaviors for HIV transmission. Previous literature among adolescents has found an association between community violence exposure and high-risk sexual behaviors. This association has not been thoroughly evaluated in adults. Our hypothesis is that a higher exposure to community violence will be associated with higher prevalences of high-risk sexual behaviors among adults. Methods: Data from the CDC’s National HIV Surveillance System were analyzed. Using respondent-driven sampling, heterosexuals at high-risk for HIV infection were interviewed about their demographics, community violence exposure and their sexual risk behaviors. Log-linked Poisson models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the associations between community violence exposure and high-risk sexual behaviors. Results: Among the 463 respondents, 83.7% were Black, 86.3% lived below the poverty level, and 21.1% reported high community violence exposure. After adjusting for potential confounders, community violence exposure (high vs. low) was found to be associated with multiple sex partners (aPR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03-1.47), any unprotected vaginal sex (aPR: 1.12., 95% CI 1.04-1.20), any unprotected anal sex (aPR: 1.67, 95% CI:1.17-2.39) and exchange sex for drugs or money (aPR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.14-2.82). Discussion: We found that higher levels of community violence exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors among heterosexual adults at high risk for HIV infections. Implications: Our study shows the relationship between community violence exposure and high-risk sexual behaviors may extend into adulthood. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to establish temporality and to examine potential mediators and moderators in this relationship.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/dohd/2021/2021/1