Allison K Groves1, Luwam T Gebrekristos2, Luz McNaughton Reyes3, Dhayendre Moodley4, Suzanne Maman3. 1. Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: aligroves@drexel.edu. 2. Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 3. Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to characterize sexual relationships in pregnancy and HIV risk behavior in the first 14 weeks postpartum among adolescent (aged <18 years), young adult (aged 18-24 years), and adult women (>24 years). METHODS: We use bivariate and multivariate statistical tests to describe differences across adolescent (n = 29), young adult (n = 263), and adult women (n = 207). RESULTS: In pregnancy, adolescents were in significantly less stable relationships and had higher risk partners than young adult or adult women. At 14 weeks postpartum, adolescents were significantly more likely to think their partners were having concurrent relationships since delivery and were likely to have lower relationship power than adult women. Furthermore, young adults were significantly more likely to return to sex and report physical intimate partner violence in the first 14 weeks postpartum than adult women. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent mothers may benefit from interventions that promote empowerment and the development of healthy relationship skills. Young adult women may benefit from interventions to delay early postpartum engagement in unprotected sex and prevent intimate partner violence exposure. All women, regardless of age group, may benefit from interventions that increase access to pre-exposure prophylaxis and partner's access to HIV testing during the perinatal period.
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to characterize sexual relationships in pregnancy and HIV risk behavior in the first 14 weeks postpartum among adolescent (aged <18 years), young adult (aged 18-24 years), and adult women (>24 years). METHODS: We use bivariate and multivariate statistical tests to describe differences across adolescent (n = 29), young adult (n = 263), and adult women (n = 207). RESULTS: In pregnancy, adolescents were in significantly less stable relationships and had higher risk partners than young adult or adult women. At 14 weeks postpartum, adolescents were significantly more likely to think their partners were having concurrent relationships since delivery and were likely to have lower relationship power than adult women. Furthermore, young adults were significantly more likely to return to sex and report physical intimate partner violence in the first 14 weeks postpartum than adult women. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent mothers may benefit from interventions that promote empowerment and the development of healthy relationship skills. Young adult women may benefit from interventions to delay early postpartum engagement in unprotected sex and prevent intimate partner violence exposure. All women, regardless of age group, may benefit from interventions that increase access to pre-exposure prophylaxis and partner's access to HIV testing during the perinatal period.
Authors: Jean H Humphrey; John W Hargrove; Lucie C Malaba; Peter J Iliff; Lawrence H Moulton; Kuda Mutasa; Partson Zvandasara; Kusum J Nathoo; Faith Mzengeza; Henry Chidawanyika; Lynn S Zijenah; Brian J Ward Journal: AIDS Date: 2006-06-26 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: John Kinuthia; Barbra A Richardson; Alison L Drake; Daniel Matemo; Jennifer A Unger; Raymond S McClelland; Grace John-Stewart Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2017-02-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Nivedita L Bhushan; Marie C D Stoner; Allison K Groves; Kathleen Kahn; Audrey E Pettifor Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2022-03-31 Impact factor: 7.830