Title |
Impact of Sexual Trauma on HIV Care Engagement: Perspectives of Female Patients with Trauma Histories in Cape Town, South Africa
|
---|---|
Published in |
AIDS and Behavior, November 2016
|
DOI | 10.1007/s10461-016-1617-1 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Melissa H. Watt, Alexis C. Dennis, Karmel W. Choi, Nonceba Ciya, John A. Joska, Corne Robertson, Kathleen J. Sikkema |
Abstract |
South African women have disproportionately high rates of both sexual trauma and HIV. To understand how sexual trauma impacts HIV care engagement, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 15 HIV-infected women with sexual trauma histories, recruited from a public clinic in Cape Town. Interviews explored trauma narratives, coping behaviors and care engagement, and transcripts were analyzed using a constant comparison method. Participants reported multiple and complex traumas across their lifetimes. Sexual trauma hindered HIV care engagement, especially immediately following HIV diagnosis, and there were indications that sexual trauma may interfere with future care engagement, via traumatic stress symptoms including avoidance. Disclosure of sexual trauma was limited; no women had disclosed to an HIV provider. Routine screening for sexual trauma in HIV care settings may help to identify individuals at risk of poor care engagement. Efficacious treatments are needed to address the psychological and behavioral sequelae of trauma. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 3 | 60% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 20% |
Unknown | 1 | 20% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 5 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 165 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 26 | 16% |
Student > Master | 24 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 16 | 10% |
Researcher | 13 | 8% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 13 | 8% |
Other | 23 | 14% |
Unknown | 50 | 30% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 41 | 25% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 21 | 13% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 20 | 12% |
Social Sciences | 14 | 8% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 2 | 1% |
Other | 10 | 6% |
Unknown | 57 | 35% |