Given their rates of poverty, domestic violence, and limited access to medical care, American Indian (AI) women are at potentially high risk for HIV/AIDS. Few studies have examined HIV prevention needs among this population, and in particular in urban settings. We report selected findings from an HIV needs assessment among AIs in New York City (NYC) sponsored by the NYC DOH’s HIV Prevention Planning Group. We mailed to all members of the AI Community House in NYC a 9-page questionnaire; 240 (30% of eligible respondents) returned a usable survey. One hundred sixty-four (68%) of the respondents were women, ranging in age from 18 to 87. Among the 66% who reported sexual activity in the last twelve months, 41% had reported never using a condom in the last twelve months and another 7.4% said they did so less than half the time. Overall, in the last twelve months, 60% had drunk alcohol (15% to the point of being drunk). 51% of the sample had experienced some kind of trauma, either physical or sexual, during their lifetime. As predicted, rates of lifetime condomless oral and anal intercourse were significantly higher amongst those who had experienced lifetime trauma (oral p < .05; anal p < .01 ). Additionally, rates of sexual risk behavior after drinking were significantly higher amongst those who had experienced trauma by a non-partner (p < .05). We will be using further analysis including logistic regression to disentangle this complex relationship between trauma, drug use, and sexual risk.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to better understand the relationship between trauma, drug use, and sexual risk among urban Native American women
Keywords: Native Americans,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.