Abstract | OBJECTIVES: We assessed the prevalence of and risk factors for trading sex with a police officer among women recruited from drug courts in St Louis, Missouri. METHODS: In 2005 to 2008, we recruited women into an HIV intervention study, which surveyed participants about multiple sociodemographic, lifestyle, and risk factors. Regression analyses assessed risk factors for trading sex, a form of police sexual misconduct (PSM). RESULTS: Of the 318 participants, 78 (25%) reported a lifetime history of PSM. Among women who experienced PSM, 96% had sex with an officer on duty, 77% had repeated exchanges, 31% reported rape by an officer, and 54% were offered favors by officers in exchange for sex; 87% said officers kept their promise. Only 51% of these respondents always used a condom with an officer. Multivariable models identified 4 or more arrests (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29, 5.97), adult antisocial personality (AOR = 9.0; 95% CI = 2.08, 38.79), and lifetime comorbid cocaine and opiate use (AOR = 2.9 [1.62, 5.20]) as risk factors; employment (AOR = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.22, 0.77) lowered the risk of PSM. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based interventions are critical to reduce risk of abuse of vulnerable women by police officers charged with protecting communities.
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Authors | Linda B Cottler, Catina C O'Leary, Katelin B Nickel, Jennifer M Reingle, Daniel Isom |
Journal | American journal of public health
(Am J Public Health)
Vol. 104
Issue 2
Pg. 338-44
(Feb 2014)
ISSN: 1541-0048 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 24328629
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Condoms
(statistics & numerical data)
- Female
- Humans
- Life Style
- Mental Health
- Middle Aged
- Police
(statistics & numerical data)
- Prevalence
- Prisoners
(statistics & numerical data)
- Rape
(statistics & numerical data)
- Risk Factors
- Sexual Behavior
(statistics & numerical data)
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Substance-Related Disorders
(epidemiology)
- Vulnerable Populations
(statistics & numerical data)
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