Mental Health and its Relationship with Social Support in Iranian Women with- High Risk Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The violence and prostitution are one of the stressors in women with high-risk sexual behaviors and can create a psychological crisis in these women. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of mental health with social support in women with high -risk sexual behaviors referring to Drop in Centers in Tabriz, Iran in 2017. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 149 women with high risk sexual behaviors, referring to 3 of Drop in Centers (DIC) in Tabriz, Iran. The sampling was purposive and non-random. Data were collected using socio-demographic characteristics, social support (PRQ-part 85) and mental health (GHQ-28) questionnaires. A test of multivariatelinear regression was performed to identify a number of mental health determinants and explanation of variance. Results: The mental health score was 50.7 (18.2), the score ranged from 0-84. Best status belonged to depression subscale [10.5 (7.1)] and the worst status belonged to social dysfunction subscale [14.6 (4.5)]. The mental health and its sub-scales had a significant relationship with social support (p<0.001, R= -0.55 to -0.33). The variables of social support, drug use and spousal violence were able to predict 35.4% of mental health variance in women. Conclusion: The results showed that, the needed appropriate strategies to promote social protection and mental health in women with high risk sexual behaviors in order to reduce the sexual transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS in society.