Collazo-Vargas Erika M, Dodge Brian, Herbenick Debby, Guerra-Reyes Lucia, Mowatt Rasul, Otero-Cruz Ilia M, Rodríguez-Díaz Carlos
Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Behavioral Studies, James Madison University.
Center for Sexual Health Promotion, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University.
P R Health Sci J. 2018 Jun;37(2):88-97.
People who inject drugs (PWID) face numerous gender-specific health risks, which increase their susceptibility to adverse outcomes, including violence. There is a need for research on female PWID to capture their unique experiences and understand behavioral and gender-based differences. This study aimed to understand which drug use and sexual behaviors are the most prevalent among female PWID accessing health services in Puerto Rico and to gather preliminary information on those individuals' experiences of sexual violence.
Utilizing a transformative theoretical perspective, a mixed-methods study was conducted with a sample of 90 Puerto Rican women who reported recent (past 12 months) injection drug use (IDU) This manuscript focused on Phase 1, in which participants completed an interviewer-administered survey eliciting information about sexual behaviors, drug use, experiences of sexual violence, and access to healthcare services. Phase 2 involved an in-depth interview focused on sexual health and access to healthcare services.
Female PWID were found to engage in a variety of sexual behaviors throughout their lifespans and at their most recent sexual events. There were significant differences across age groups for participants, those being time of most recent sexual event (p = 0.007), partner's sex (p = 0.039), relationship with partner (p = 0.023), contraception method used (p = 0.057), and reports of partner orgasm (p = 0.055). Over half of all participants reported having experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
This study extends the literature on PWID in Puerto Rico by underscoring the diversity of female PWID sexual experiences and needs while illustrating how those experiences are often mediated by drug use. The findings highlight the need for further research on female PWID in Puerto Rico to better develop programs that include sexual violence prevention as part of future interventions for this population.
注射毒品者面临众多特定性别的健康风险，这增加了他们出现不良后果（包括暴力）的易感性。有必要对女性注射毒品者进行研究，以了解她们的独特经历，并认识行为和基于性别的差异。本研究旨在了解在波多黎各使用卫生服务的女性注射毒品者中，哪些吸毒和性行为最为普遍，并收集有关这些个体性暴力经历的初步信息。
采用变革性理论视角，对90名报告近期（过去12个月）有注射吸毒行为的波多黎各女性样本进行了混合方法研究。本手稿聚焦于第一阶段，在此阶段，参与者完成了一项由访谈员实施的调查，该调查收集了有关性行为、吸毒、性暴力经历和获得医疗服务情况的信息。第二阶段涉及一次深入访谈，重点是性健康和获得医疗服务情况。
发现女性注射毒品者在其一生中以及最近一次性行为中会有多种性行为。参与者在年龄组之间存在显著差异，包括最近一次性行为的时间（p = 0.007）、性伴侣的性别（p = 0.039）、与性伴侣的关系（p = 0.023）、使用的避孕方法（p = 0.057）以及性伴侣性高潮的报告（p = 0.055）。超过一半的参与者报告一生中曾经历过性暴力。
本研究通过强调女性注射毒品者性经历和需求的多样性，同时说明这些经历如何常常由吸毒所介导，扩展了波多黎各注射毒品者的相关文献。研究结果凸显了对波多黎各女性注射毒品者进行进一步研究的必要性，以便更好地制定相关项目，将预防性暴力作为该人群未来干预措施的一部分。
