Risk and Protective Factors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Among African American Women Living with HIV

Abstract

African American women comprise an estimated of 64% new infections among women of all races in the US. In this study, we have set out to examine the complex nexus of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and HIV infection among African American women. Two hundred and thirty-nine African American women living with HIV participated in this cross-sectional study. We examined age, marital status, level of education, stigma and social support as independent variables and PTSD symptoms as the dependent variable using logistic regression. We analyzed the bi-variate associations between each variable and PTSD symptoms, and then constructed a multi-variable model which controlled for all variables simultaneously. Our findings revealed that 67% of the women reported clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Also, age, education, internalized stigma, and social support are associated with PTSD symptoms. Education, older age, and social support were protective factors against PTSD symptoms. Finally, our findings suggest that understanding of PTSD symptoms in this population may be paramount to improving prevention, care, and treatment.