Recent and past intimate partner abuse and HIV risk among young women

Objective: To examine the associations between past intimate partner abuse experienced during adolescence (verbal and physical), recent intimate partner abuse (verbal, physical, and sexual), and HIV risk (as indicated by lack of condom use) for sexually active young adult women in relationships with male partners. Design: Secondary data analysis of waves II and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Setting: The Add Health Study is a longitudinal, in-home survey of a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Sample: Analyses involved 2,058 sexually active young adult women. Main Outcome Measures: HIV risk was measured by consistent condom use over the past 12 months. Results: Physical and verbal abuse experienced in adolescence were associated with physical/verbal abuse experienced in young adulthood. Young, sexually active women experiencing no abuse in their relationships were more likely to consistently use condoms in the past 12 months than were their abused counterparts. Conclusion: A causal pathway may exist between prior abuse, current abuse, and HIV risk.