256415 HIV testing behaviors among black women at risk of HIV

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Isa Williams Miles, ScD, MS , Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Binh Le , Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Wade Ivy, PhD , Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Gabriela Paz-Bailey, MD, PhD, MSc , Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
     
Background: Based on HIV case surveillance, the rate of new HIV infections for black women is more than 15 times that of white women. Late diagnosis of HIV creates missed opportunities to obtain early care and prevent transmission. This analysis reports HIV testing behaviors of black women.

Methods: The National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) monitors HIV risk behaviors and testing in populations at highest risk of HIV infection. In 2010, heterosexuals with low education or income in 21 cities with a high prevalence of AIDS participated in NHBS and completed an anonymous survey and HIV test. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine factors associated with testing in the past year among black women not known to be HIV-positive.

Results: Among 3,315 black women, 40% were tested for HIV in the past year. Forty (1.2%) women were newly diagnosed with HIV. Of women with HIV diagnosis who were not tested in the past year, 60% reported fear of infection as the main reason for not being tested. On multivariate analysis, testing in the past year was more likely among women who reported visiting a health care provider (p<0.001), >3 sexual partners (p<0.001), or unprotected sex with a casual or exchange partner (p<0.001) in the past year.

Conclusions: Women reporting high-risk behaviors and those visiting health care providers are more likely to be tested for HIV infection. Fear of HIV infection is still a deterrent to testing among black women, especially those at highest risk of being infected.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the factors associated with recent HIV testing among black women. 2. Identify reasons for lack of HIV testing among black women at risk of HIV. 3. Determine if black women with characteristics that put them at high risk for HIV infection are getting tested for HIV annually.

Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked as a behavioral scientist on National HIV Behavioral Surveillance for over 3 years with a focus on racial disparities of HIV infection, heterosexuals at increased risk of HIV infection, and HIV testing among populations at high risk of HIV infection.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4404.0: HIV Testing Behaviors