Qualitative Assessment of the Cognitive Difference Among Abused and Nonabused Minority Women with STD: Implications for Behavioral Interventions

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Qualitative Assessment of the Cognitive
Difference Among Abused and Nonabused Minority
Women with STD Implications for Behavioral
Interventions

• JD Champion, A Longoria, D Reid
• RN Shain, JM Piper, S Perdue
• The University of Texas Health Science Center
• San Antonio, TX

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Background

• Research has identified the need for modification
  of standardized STD behavioral interventions for
  minority women with a history of sexual or
  physical abuse.

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Objective

• The objective was to obtain qualitative data to
  provide more in-depth understanding of the
  configuration of psychosocial and situational
  factors associated with high-risk sexual
  behavior, substance use, health seeking behavior,
  contraceptive use and treatment compliance among
  minority women with STD and sexual or physical
  abuse history.

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Methods

• Participants included Mexican-and
  African-American women, aged 15-45 years enrolled
  in a randomized study of behavioral intervention
  to reduce STD recurrence. Individual,
  open-ended, semi-structured interviews lasting
  approximately 30 -45 minutes were conducted with
  513 participants.

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Methods

• These interviews focused on participants
  perceptions of their sexual risk, sexual
  relationships, individual histories of sexual,
  physical or psychological abuse and factors
  influencing their sexual behaviors.
  Additionally, participants were asked about
  health-seeking behavior, contraceptive use and
  STD treatment compliance.

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Results

• Key categories and themes from qualitative data
  provided the context for interpretation of the
  data. The interview data was searched for
  elaboration of associations found in prior
  statistical analysis. The words of participants
  were used to corroborate, refute, substantiate
  and supplement previous quantitative results,
  comparing responses by history of abuse.
  Examining results of survey data in context of
  participants own words provided alternative
  explanations and conclusions.

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Demographics
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What do women want from men?
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Why do women have sex?
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Women who use drugs more partners?
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Dont want to marry NON ABUSED  
ABUSED WOMEN
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I dont think I can get pregnant
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My Babys Dad
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My Babys Dad
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Why a woman stays with a man after a STD?
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Why a woman stays after STD?
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I didnt tell my man about STD
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Did STD affect my body?
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Did STD affect your body?
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Conclusions

• Context for modification of risk-reduction
  interventions specifically designed for abused
  minority women to realize a reduction in sexual
  risk behaviors, abuse and STD re-infection rates
  is identified.

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Implications

• Incorporation of results to modify existing STD
  prevention programs