Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #101862

Fred Molitor¹, Reggie Caldwell², and Carol Crump². (1) ETR Associates, 2210 21st Street, Sacramento, CA 95818, 916.452.8065, fredm@etr.org, (2) Office of AIDS, California Department of Health Services, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320

Objective. Studies have found history of forced sex related to methamphetamine use. Our objective was to investigate childhood versus adulthood sexual assaults in association with methamphetmine use. Methods. High-risk HIV-positive and HIV-negative persons were recruited at 11 sites throughout California for a prevention case management intervention. Self-administered baseline risk-assessment questionnaires assessed demographics, sexual behaviors, history of forced sex, and methamphetamine use within the previous 30 days. Predictors of recent methamphetamine use were examined in a logistic regression model with gender, ethnicity (non-white versus white), men reporting sex with men in the previous two months, HIV serostatus, and history of forced sex victimization. Subsequent analyses examined age of first forced sex occurrence (<18 versus >=18 years). Results. Three-fourths (66.4%) of 542 clients were HIV-positive. Most (72.3%) were male; 35.1% reported sex with another man. The race/ethnicity was 47.6% white, 32.5% Latino, and 12.0% African American. Methamphetamine use within the last 30 days was reported by 17.7%. Thirty-four percent suffered from a forced sexual assault; most (73.0%) were less than 18 years old when victimized. Men who had sex with men (Odds Ratio=2.1; 95% Confidence Interval=1.2-3.6) and history of forced sex (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.0-2.7) were the only predictors of methamphetamine use. The relationship between forced sex and methamphetamine use was significant for both childhood and adulthood victimization. Discussion. It appears that the psychological consequences of childhood sexual victimization make one more likely to later use methamphetamines, and a lifestyle that includes methamphetamine use increases one's risk of forced sex victimization.

Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to

(
• become informed about the relationship between forced sex victimization and methamphetamine use and (
• determine whether childhood or adulthood forced sex is associated with use of methamphetamines.

Keywords: Drug Use, Sexual Assault

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.