Abuse and Mental Health Concerns Among HIV-Infected Haitian Women Living in the United States

摘要

This study describes the prevalence of abuse and mental health issues among a cohort of HIV-infected Haitian women living in the United States. We present data on 96 women, ages 19-73 years (M — 47.6, SD = 11.1), who were screened for mental health concerns between 2009 and 2012. Results demonstrated that 12.5% of the women reported a history of abuse. However, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) secondary to HIV was reported by approximately 34% of women. Depression and anxiety were also highly reported, with rates of 49% and 43%, respectively. Women who reported a history of abuse were more likely to report anxiety, PTSD, and PTSD related to HIV symptoms than those without. Our findings suggest that Haitian HIV-infected women may under-report abuse and experience significant depression and anxiety. These preliminary results could be used to develop future studies and to design and implement culturally sensitive interventions for this underserved population.