AEGiS-BKREV: Childhood Trauma and HIV: Women at Risk

(BKREV) Childhood Trauma and HIV: Women at Risk

Brunner/Mazel, 325 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. 199p., illus., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-87630-947-3, 0-87630-948-1pbk. $59.95, $29.95pbk.
Laura E. Whitmire, Lisa L. Harlow, Kathryn Quina, Patricia J. Morokoff. 1999.

The number of women with HIV and AIDS has increased at an alarming rate from 7% of the total cases in 1985 to 16% at the end of 1997. Even more alarming is that of these 16%, 56% are African American and 20% are Hispanic and the majority of the women are of childbearing age, 79% were between the ages of 20 and 44 at the time of being diagnosed with AIDS. This books discusses the theory that childhood sexual abuse may be a risk factor for HIV. It covers such topics as long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse, relationship between childhood sexual abuse and family environment, and the family-of-origin environment. There is an excellent chapter that covers the "differential effects of childhood sexual abuse," providing case examples and histories. Several models are presented that analyze the theories that are presented with an extensive discussion of these various theories.

The final results "make clear that no one experience locks a woman into a pattern of risky sexual behavior." However, childhood abuse does have serious consequences that greatly increases a woman's risk of adult sexual assault. It is shown that learning sexual assertiveness and sexual empowerment can be an effective way to decrease risky sexual behavior. The final sentence in the book is something for all counselors, researchers, academics, and laypeople to recognize: "Work to overcome the vulnerability resulting from a history of victimization is essential to women's health promotion." This is a recommended book for all libraries.

Keywords: Women; Risk Factors; Child Sexual Abuse Copyright (c) 1999 - Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Review's may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.
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Copyright © 1999 - The University of Illinois at Chicago. All materials in the journal are subject to copyright by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.

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