TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurological function and HIV risk behaviors of female prison inmates
AU - Brewer-Smyth, Kathleen
AU - Bucurescu, Gabriel
AU - Shults, Justine
AU - Metzger, David
AU - Sacktor, Ned
AU - van Gorp, Wilfred
AU - Kolson, Dennis
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - The purpose of this study was to explain relationships between neurological dysfunction, HIV serological status, and HIV risk behaviors that have not been well understood. A secondary analysis was conducted on data from 117 female prison inmates. Another 18 female inmates from the same prison were further evaluated with more specific neurological, neuropsychological, and HIV risk behavior Risk Assessment Battery (RAB) measures. Neurological function, defined by valid, reliable quantitative measures of cognition, behavior/mood, cranial nerves, motor, reflexes, and sensation, was significantly correlated with HIV RAB scores (.743, p =.006), and RAB scale scores (.824, p =.001) in HIV negative, but not HIV-positive, inmates. Specifically, the reflex deficits subscale correlated with RAB scores (.779, p =.003) and RAB scale scores (.682, p =.015) in the HIV-negative group. These findings combined with subjects’ histories suggest cerebral dysfunction possibly contributes to HIV risk behaviors in certain high-risk female inmates predating HIV infection. These findings further suggest that HIV risk reduction should target neurologically impaired females as a high-risk group. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings.
AB - The purpose of this study was to explain relationships between neurological dysfunction, HIV serological status, and HIV risk behaviors that have not been well understood. A secondary analysis was conducted on data from 117 female prison inmates. Another 18 female inmates from the same prison were further evaluated with more specific neurological, neuropsychological, and HIV risk behavior Risk Assessment Battery (RAB) measures. Neurological function, defined by valid, reliable quantitative measures of cognition, behavior/mood, cranial nerves, motor, reflexes, and sensation, was significantly correlated with HIV RAB scores (.743, p =.006), and RAB scale scores (.824, p =.001) in HIV negative, but not HIV-positive, inmates. Specifically, the reflex deficits subscale correlated with RAB scores (.779, p =.003) and RAB scale scores (.682, p =.015) in the HIV-negative group. These findings combined with subjects’ histories suggest cerebral dysfunction possibly contributes to HIV risk behaviors in certain high-risk female inmates predating HIV infection. These findings further suggest that HIV risk reduction should target neurologically impaired females as a high-risk group. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings.
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U2 - 10.1097/01376517-200712000-00007
DO - 10.1097/01376517-200712000-00007
M3 - Article
C2 - 18186421
AN - SCOPUS:39549097162
SN - 0888-0395
VL - 39
SP - 361
EP - 372
JO - Journal of Neuroscience Nursing
JF - Journal of Neuroscience Nursing
IS - 6
ER -