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Examining the Influence of Trauma Exposure on HIV Sexual Risk Between Men and Women in Post-Conflict Liberia

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Abstract

The adverse impact of exposure to war-related traumatic events on mental health is well documented. Few studies, however, have focused on the impact of exposure to war-related traumatic events on HIV sexual risk behavior in post-conflict countries such as Liberia. We investigated whether exposure to war-related traumatic events was linked to HIV sexual risk behavior, and identified potential mediators of this relationship, including stressful life events, problematic alcohol use, and intimate partner violence (IPV) among women and men in Liberia. Data were collected from a sample of 395 participants in Monrovia, Liberia. Results from the serial multiple mediator model did not support direct or indirect effects between war-related traumatic events and HIV sexual risk behavior among women. For men, we found both direct and indirect effects between war-related traumatic events and HIV sexual risk behavior. Findings from this research highlight the need for trauma-informed HIV prevention strategies in Liberia.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Grants R34 MH087223 from the National Institute of Mental Health and K01TW009660 from the National Institutes of Health and Fogarty International Center. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Fogarty International Center or National Institutes of Health

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 100 Foster Rd, Wright Hall, Athens, GA, 321D30602-6522, USA

    Tamora A. Callands, Shantesica M. Gilliam, Erica N. Taylor & Nathan B. Hansen

  2. Department of Public Health, College of Health, Community and Policy, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Katelyn M. Sileo

  3. The Center for Interdisciplinary Research at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Katelyn M. Sileo

  4. School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA

    Josalin J. Hunter-Jones

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  1. Tamora A. Callands
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Correspondence to Tamora A. Callands.

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Callands, T.A., Gilliam, S.M., Sileo, K.M. et al. Examining the Influence of Trauma Exposure on HIV Sexual Risk Between Men and Women in Post-Conflict Liberia. AIDS Behav 25, 1159–1170 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03088-6

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