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The Association of Recurrent and Multiple Types of Abuse with Adverse Mental Health, Substance Use, and Sexual Health Outcomes among Out-of-School Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cape Town, South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID15460948
AuthorsBronwyn Myers (0000-0003-0235-6716, South African Medical Research Council, corresponding author), F A Browne (0000-0002-4230-2096, RTI International), Tara Carney (0000-0001-5400-0565, South African Medical Research Council), Tracy Kline (0000-0002-6675-0360, RTI International), Courtney Peasant Bonner (0000-0001-6983-2698, RTI International), W M Wechsberg (0000-0002-5146-6463, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue21
Pages11403-11403
Publication date2021-10-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph182111403
PMID34769920
OpenAlexW3210817661
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited53

Although physical and sexual abuse exposure is a well-established risk for poor health, the dimensions of abuse associated with health among socially vulnerable adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) remain underexamined. This article describes associations between combinations of abuse type and timing with mental health, substance use, and sexual risk outcomes among a sample of 499 AGYW (aged 16 to 19) who had left school early and were recruited for a cluster randomized trial in Cape Town, South Africa. Approximately one-third (33.5%; 95% CI: 28.7, 38.6) of participants reported lifetime abuse. Exposure to more than one type of abuse was associated with increased risk of depression (β = 3.92; 95% CI: 2.25, 5.59) and anxiety (β = 3.70; 95% CI: 2.11, 5.28), and greater odds of polydrug use (OR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.02, 4.34) and substance-impaired sex (OR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.31, 3.86). Exposure to multiple types of abuse during childhood/early adolescence and again in late adolescence was associated with increased risk of depression (β = 4.65; 95% CI: 3.15, 6.14), anxiety (β = 4.35; 95% CI: 2.70, 6.02), and polydrug use (OR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.03, 5.73). Findings underscore the need for trauma-informed interventions that reduce mental health, substance use, and sexual risks among AGYW who have experienced multiple forms of abuse and recurrent abuse

Anxiety · Depression (economics · Environmental health · Mental health · Odds ratio · Poison control · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Sexual abuse · Substance abuse · Suicide prevention · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Medicine · Internal Medicine

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Unique citing works9
Citations per year2,25
Citation span2022 - 2026 (5)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 9
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