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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Prevalence of psychological trauma and association with current health and functioning in a sample of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Tanzanian adults
PLoS ONE, Volume 7, No. 5, Article e36304, Year 2012
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Description
Background: In high income nations, traumatic life experiences such as childhood sexual abuse are much more common in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) than the general population, and trauma is associated with worse current health and functioning. Virtually no data exist on the prevalence or consequences of trauma for PLWHA in low income nations. Methodology/Principal Findings: We recruited four cohorts of Tanzanian patients in established medical care for HIV infection (n = 228), individuals newly testing positive for HIV (n = 267), individuals testing negative for HIV at the same sites (n = 182), and a random sample of community-dwelling adults (n = 249). We assessed lifetime prevalence of traumatic experiences, recent stressful life events, and current mental health and health-related physical functioning. Those with established HIV infection reported a greater number of childhood and lifetime traumatic experiences (2.1 and 3.0 respectively) than the community cohort (1.8 and 2.3). Those with established HIV infection reported greater post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology and worse current health-related physical functioning. Each additional lifetime traumatic experience was associated with increased PTSD symptomatology and worse functioning. Conclusions/Significance: This study is the first to our knowledge in an HIV population from a low income nation to report the prevalence of a range of potentially traumatic life experiences compared to a matched community sample and to show that trauma history is associated with poorer health-related physical functioning. Our findings underscore the importance of considering psychosocial characteristics when planning to meet the health needs of PLWHA in low income countries. © 2012 Pence et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Pence, Brian Wells
United States, Durham
Duke University
Shirey, Kristen
United States, Durham
Duke University
Whetten, Kathryn D.
United States, Durham
Duke University
Agala, Bernard
United States, Durham
Duke University
Itemba, Dafrosa K.
Tanzania
Tanzania Women Research Foundation
Adams, Julie L.
United States, Durham
Duke University
Whetten, Rachel A.
United States, Durham
Duke University
Yao, Jia
United States, Durham
Duke University
Shao, John F.
Tanzania
Tanzania Women Research Foundation
Statistics
Citations: 48
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0036304
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Mental Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Violence And Injury
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study