Authors: Evans-Campbell T, Lindhorst T, Huang B

Publication Year: 2006

Last Updated: 2010-01-21

Journal: American Journal of Public Health

Keywords: Battered Women--Psychosocial Factors; Health; Health Status; Help Seeking Behavior; HIV Infections--Prevention and Control; Mental Health; Native Americans--Psychosocial Factors; Violence--Epidemiology--New York; Violence--Psychosocial Factors; Child Abuse; Confidence Intervals; Convenience Sample; Data Analysis Software; Depression; Descriptive Statistics; Domestic Violence; Female; Funding Source; HIV Infections--Risk Factors; Mental Disorders;  Rape; Risk Taking Behavior; Self Report; Trauma--Psychosocial Factors; Urban Areas

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We surveyed American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) women in New York City to determine the prevalence of 3 types of interpersonal violence among urban AIAN women and the behavioral health and mental health factors associated with this violence. METHODS: Using a survey, we questioned 112 adult AIAN women in New York City about their experiences with interpersonal violence, mental health, HIV risk behaviors, and help-seeking. The sampling plan utilized a multiple-wave approach with modified respondent-driven sampling, chain referral, and target sampling. RESULTS: Among respondents, over 65% had experienced some form of interpersonal violence, of which 28% reported childhood physical abuse, 48% reported rape, 40% reported a history of domestic violence, and 40% reported multiple victimization experiences. Overwhelmingly, women experienced high levels of emotional trauma related to these events. A history of interpersonal violence was associated with depression, dysphoria, help-seeking behaviors, and an increase in high-HIV risk sexual behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: AIAN women experience high rates of interpersonal violence and trauma that are associated with a host of health problems and have important implications for health and mental health professionals.

Source: Link to Original Article.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1522109/