Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to document the impact on HIV dissease progression, measured as CD4 counts, number of opportunistic infections, viral replication, and adherence to antiretroviral medication for HIV-infected women who do and do not report partner violence. Although both HIV infection and partner violence affect millions of women worldwide, research is lacking on the impact of violence on the health of women with HIV. Once the relationship of IPV and HIV disease progression is documented evidence-based interventions can be designed and tested.
Methods: A non-experimental, comparative, descriptive design was used. HIV-infected women receiving care at an HIV specialty clinic were interviewed using the validated Severity of Violence Against Women Scale, the Danger Assessment Scale, and the Domestic Violence Specific-Moriskey Medication Adherence Scale instruments. Number of opportunistic infections, CD4 counts, and viral replication were abstracted from the electronic medical records. We hypothesized that HIV-infected women who reported IPV in the past 12 months would have greater disease progression evidenced by lower mean CD4 counts, more opportunistic infections, lower antiretroviral adherence and more detectable viral replication than women who did not report IPV.
Results: Of the 272 women meeting inclusion criteria, 52% reported IPV in the past 12 months. Women who experienced IPV had significantly more opportunistic infections (t(223.6) = 2.64, p < .0125), significantly lower medication adherence scores (t(262.1) = 4.91, p < .001), and a greater proportion of detectable viral loads (Fisher's exact P < .001).
Discussion/Conclusions: Partner violence in HIV-infected women is associated with greater disease progression and less adherence to antiretroviral treatment. This research provides documentation for the need for HIV-infected women to be screened for partner violence and the design and testing of interventions to promote optimal HIV self-management and medication adherence and minimize disease progression.
Sigma Membership
Unknown
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Women, HIV Disease Progression, Intimate Partner Violence
Recommended Citation
Nava, Ma de los Angeles; McFarlane, Judith M.; and Trimble, Debra, "HIV-infected women and intimate partner violence: CD4 counts, opportunistic infections, viral replication, and adherence to antiretroviral medication" (2012). Convention. 46.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2011/presentations_2011/46
Conference Name
41st Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Grapevine, Texas, USA
Conference Year
2011
Rights Holder
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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
HIV-infected women and intimate partner violence: CD4 counts, opportunistic infections, viral replication, and adherence to antiretroviral medication
Grapevine, Texas, USA
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to document the impact on HIV dissease progression, measured as CD4 counts, number of opportunistic infections, viral replication, and adherence to antiretroviral medication for HIV-infected women who do and do not report partner violence. Although both HIV infection and partner violence affect millions of women worldwide, research is lacking on the impact of violence on the health of women with HIV. Once the relationship of IPV and HIV disease progression is documented evidence-based interventions can be designed and tested.
Methods: A non-experimental, comparative, descriptive design was used. HIV-infected women receiving care at an HIV specialty clinic were interviewed using the validated Severity of Violence Against Women Scale, the Danger Assessment Scale, and the Domestic Violence Specific-Moriskey Medication Adherence Scale instruments. Number of opportunistic infections, CD4 counts, and viral replication were abstracted from the electronic medical records. We hypothesized that HIV-infected women who reported IPV in the past 12 months would have greater disease progression evidenced by lower mean CD4 counts, more opportunistic infections, lower antiretroviral adherence and more detectable viral replication than women who did not report IPV.
Results: Of the 272 women meeting inclusion criteria, 52% reported IPV in the past 12 months. Women who experienced IPV had significantly more opportunistic infections (t(223.6) = 2.64, p < .0125), significantly lower medication adherence scores (t(262.1) = 4.91, p < .001), and a greater proportion of detectable viral loads (Fisher's exact P < .001).
Discussion/Conclusions: Partner violence in HIV-infected women is associated with greater disease progression and less adherence to antiretroviral treatment. This research provides documentation for the need for HIV-infected women to be screened for partner violence and the design and testing of interventions to promote optimal HIV self-management and medication adherence and minimize disease progression.
Description
41st Biennial Convention - 29 October-2 November 2011. Theme: People and Knowledge: Connecting for Global Health. Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & convention Center.