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Depression and Sexual Trauma Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in HIV-Prevention Research in Tanzania.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cherenack, EM; Tolley, EE; Kaaya, S; Headley, J; Baumgartner, JN
Published in: Maternal and child health journal
May 2020

Clinical trials are necessary to test HIV-prevention strategies among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. Psychosocial risk factors that increase girls' and young women's vulnerability for HIV may also impact their experiences in clinical trials. A better understanding of psychosocial risks among girls and young women enrolled in HIV-prevention research is needed. This analysis explores depression and sexual trauma among adolescent girls and young women enrolled in a mock microbicide trial in Tanzania.We collected cross-sectional data from 135 HIV-negative adolescent girls and young women between 15 and 21 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania enrolled in a mock microbicide trial. Depression, sexual behavior, and sexual trauma were measured. Sexual trauma and demographic variables were entered into a multivariate binomial logistic regression model predicting depression.Overall, 27% of participants had moderate-to-severe depression. The most commonly endorsed items were anhedonia (lack of interest/pleasure) and low mood, which were reported by 78% of participants. Thoughts of suicide or self-harm were endorsed by 17% of participants. Coerced/forced first sex was reported by 42% of participants. Participants reporting coerced/forced first sex had 3.16 times the likelihood of moderate-to-severe depression.Depression and coerced/forced sex were common among participants in an HIV-prevention mock clinical trial in Tanzania. When enrolling adolescent girls and young women in HIV-prevention trials in sub-Saharan Africa, our research suggests the need for a trauma-informed approach, referrals for trauma and depression, and interventions that address the impact of depression and trauma on HIV prevention, clinical trial adherence, and clinical outcomes.

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Published In

Maternal and child health journal

DOI

EISSN

1573-6628

ISSN

1092-7875

Publication Date

May 2020

Volume

24

Issue

5

Start / End Page

620 / 629

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Tanzania
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sex Offenses
  • Public Health
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • HIV Infections
  • Female
  • Depression
 

Citation

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Cherenack, E. M., Tolley, E. E., Kaaya, S., Headley, J., & Baumgartner, J. N. (2020). Depression and Sexual Trauma Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in HIV-Prevention Research in Tanzania. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 24(5), 620–629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02888-5
Cherenack, Emily M., Elizabeth E. Tolley, Sylvia Kaaya, Jennifer Headley, and Joy Noel Baumgartner. “Depression and Sexual Trauma Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in HIV-Prevention Research in Tanzania.Maternal and Child Health Journal 24, no. 5 (May 2020): 620–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02888-5.
Cherenack EM, Tolley EE, Kaaya S, Headley J, Baumgartner JN. Depression and Sexual Trauma Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in HIV-Prevention Research in Tanzania. Maternal and child health journal. 2020 May;24(5):620–9.
Cherenack, Emily M., et al. “Depression and Sexual Trauma Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in HIV-Prevention Research in Tanzania.Maternal and Child Health Journal, vol. 24, no. 5, May 2020, pp. 620–29. Epmc, doi:10.1007/s10995-020-02888-5.
Cherenack EM, Tolley EE, Kaaya S, Headley J, Baumgartner JN. Depression and Sexual Trauma Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in HIV-Prevention Research in Tanzania. Maternal and child health journal. 2020 May;24(5):620–629.
Journal cover image

Published In

Maternal and child health journal

DOI

EISSN

1573-6628

ISSN

1092-7875

Publication Date

May 2020

Volume

24

Issue

5

Start / End Page

620 / 629

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Tanzania
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sex Offenses
  • Public Health
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • HIV Infections
  • Female
  • Depression