TABLE 1.
Sociodemographic, Structural, Behavioral, and Victimization Characteristics of Initial and Repeat Incarcerated Women, Project POWER, North Carolina, 2010–2011
| Characteristic | Initial Incarceration | Repeat Incarceration | χ2 or t-test (p) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (N = 196) |
(N = 325) |
||
| Percent or M ± SD | Percent or M ± SD | ||
| Socio-demographics | |||
| Age, years (mean ± SD) | 31.85 ± 8.873 | 34.93 ± 9.245 | 3.74 (.000) |
| Latina ethnicity | 2.0% | 0.9% | 1.15 (.283) |
| Race – White (vs. nonwhite) | 57.7% | 57.8% | 0.002 (.966) |
| High school graduate (vs. < high school) | 37.2% | 41.2% | 5.96 (.051) |
| Never married (vs. any marital status) | 36.2% | 36.3% | 0.00 (.985) |
| Number of births (mean ± SD) | 2.18 ± 1.407 | 2.42 ± 1.396 | 1.84 (.067) |
| Any children in household | 71.4% | 52.0% | 19.12 (.000) |
| Current offense drug-related | 30.1% | 42.2% | 7.57 (.006) |
| CES-D depressive symptoms (mean ± SD) | 28.50 ± 14.09 | 27.07 ± 12.92 | 1.18 (.239) |
| CES-D depressive symptoms (> 16) | 83.2% | 80.0% | 0.80 (.371) |
| Structural | |||
| Income (< $18,000/year) | 60.4% | 71.0% | 5.65 (.017) |
| Number of people supported by income (mean ± SD) | 3.0 ± 1.589 | 2.5 ± 1.535 | −3.34 (.001) |
| Receive government assistance | 55.1% | 59.7% | 1.06 (.304) |
| Unstable housing | 7.7% | 18.5% | 11.59 (.001) |
| Unemployed prior to incarceration | 38.8% | 51.9% | 8.38 (.004) |
| Risk behaviors | |||
| Alcohol use* | 62.1% | 68.3% | 1.85 (.174) |
| Crack cocaine use* | 11.2% | 36.9% | 40.73 (.000) |
| Powder cocaine use* | 9.2% | 20.9% | 12.23 (.000) |
| Speedball use* | 9.7% | 16.0% | 4.13 (.042) |
| Ever injected drugs | 15.8% | 28.0% | 10.12 (.001) |
| Unprotected vaginal intercourse outside of monogamous relationship* | 73.8% | 73.4% | 0.02 (.902) |
| Condom use during vaginal intercourse with main male partner* | 31.4% | 29.5% | 0.17 (.676) |
| Condom use during vaginal intercourse with non-main male partner* | 50.0% | 23.3% | 5.05 (.025) |
| Partner concurrency* | 10.7% | 25.0% | 15.81 (.000) |
| Ever traded sex | 5.1% | 17.8% | 17.23 (.000) |
| Traded sex for drugs | 10.8% | 36.3% | 40.59 (.000) |
| Number of times traded sex (mean ± SD) | 1.27 ± 10.672 | 4.32 ± 17.455 | 2.20 (.028) |
| Used drugs before sex* | 37.6% | 47.3% | 4.62 (.032) |
| Number of unprotected vaginal sex acts (mean ± SD) | 14.7 ± 18.173 | 13.89 ± 19.666 | −0.47 (.64) |
| Number of male sexual partners (mean ± SD) | 1.31 ± 3.242 | 3.49 ± 13.196 | 2.27 (.024) |
| 50% chance or greater main partner had other partners* | 18.4% | 27.7% | 5.81 (.016) |
| Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) | |||
| Ever self-reported STD | 71.5% | 83.3% | 9.97 (.002) |
| Laboratory-confirmed STD (chlamydia or gonorrhea) | 4.7% | 5.5% | 0.124 (.725) |
| Victimization history | |||
| Childhood emotional abuse | 44.9% | 47.8% | 0.42 (.517) |
| Childhood sexual abuse | 31.1% | 40.4% | 4.48 (.034) |
| Childhood abuse from mother | 36.2% | 38.5% | 0.27 (.603) |
| Weapon used against** | 26.5% | 40.3% | 10.18 (.001) |
| Forcefully held down, punched, kicked, or choked** | 43.9% | 58.5% | 10.44 (.001) |
| Made to have sex without protection** | 7.7% | 13.8% | 4.60 (.032) |
| Physically hurt during sex** | 9.7% | 17.8% | 6.45 (.011) |
| Afraid to say no to sex** | 11.2% | 15.7% | 2.03 (.155) |
| Had sex when not in control** | 14.9% | 23.8% | 5.88 (.015) |
| Had sex when didn’t want to** | 20.9% | 29.5% | 4.69 (.030) |
| Raped** | 14.8% | 29.6% | 14.72 (.000) |
| Any sexual victimization** | 58.5% | 70.5% | 7.82 (.005) |
Note.
*
Recall period 30 days prior to incarceration.
**
Incident occurred since the age of 18.