Addressing the impact of the intimate partner violence, HIV, and substance abuse syndemic on low-income urban women's mental health: A mixed methods study

Illangasekare, Samantha L.

Friday, March 30, 2012: 1:25 PM-2:45 PM

Pacific I (San Francisco Marriott Marquis)

Speaker:
Samantha L. Illangasekare, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Authors:
Jessica G. Burke, PhD, MHS, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
Andrea Gielen, ScD, Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy

Presentation Format:
Scientific Program Report

Learning Objectives:

Recognize the intersection of intimate partner violence (IPV), HIV and substance abuse as a “syndemic” among low-income urban women
Identify the associations between IPV, HIV and substance abuse and depressive symptoms among low-income urban women
Illustrate how social support impacts the mental health of women living with the IPV, HIV and substance abuse syndemic

Description:
Because of their co-occurrence and mutually enhancing natures, intimate partner violence, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse among women have been described as a syndemic. This research uses quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the effect of this syndemic on low-income urban women’s mental health, and evaluates how social support impacts this relationship. Results from this work can inform treatment practices and interventions to improve the mental health outcomes of women living with the IPV, HIV and substance abuse syndemic.