Prevalence and Correlates of Violence Exposure Among HIV-Infected Adolescents

Violence exposure among HIV-infected adolescents was estimated using Poisson regression and adjusted event rate ratios (ERR). Of 166 urban adolescents (99 perinatally infected youth [PIY]; 67 behaviorally infected youth [BIY]) 52.5% (n = 85) experienced violence; 79% (n = 131) witnessed violence. Sexual violence was experienced by 18% (6 PIY, 24 BIY) before age 13 years and by 15% (6 PIY, 19 BIY) during adolescence. BIY were significantly more likely than PIY to have experienced and witnessed violence. Controlling for transmission, ever-bartered sex (ERR = 1.92, CI [1.31 to 2.81], p = .009) and family disruptions (ERR = 1.19, CI [1.03 to 1.39], p = .022) were associated with violence victimization. Family disruptions (ERR = 1.17, CI [1.05 to 1.30], p = .004), female gender (ERR = 1.32, CI [1.05 to 1.66], p = .017), and heterosexual orientation (ERR = 1.48, CI = [1.11 to 1.97], p = .006) were associated with witnessing violence.