Women’s Health Care: Show Me the Way to Go Home

Fleeing from an abusive partner, dulling the pain with addictive substances — more often than not, this is the subtext of homeless women’s lives that clinicians may fail to read or simply avoid address ing. Research has demonstrated significantly higher rates of substance abuse/dependence, major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among homeless than low-income housed women. Homeless women are also more likely to be victims of physical or sexual abuse and to trade sex for commodities. Consequently, they are at increased risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDs and the human papilloma virus, which is associated with cervical cancer and compromised immune function.

Publication Date: 
2000
Editor(s): 
Post Pat
Volume: 
4
Issue: 
4
Journal Name: 
Healing Hands
Location: 
United States