Violence and Threats of Violence Experienced by Public Health Field-Workers

Abstract
SOME CLIENTS seeking traditional public health services for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and tuberculosis (TB) may engage in behaviors that are associated both with a risk of acquiring those diseases and with violence. For example, crack cocaine use and other illicit drug use are recognized risk factors for HIV infection, syphilis, and TB.1-5