With the HIV epidemic increasingly disproportionately affecting women, it is crucial to understand the needs and risk behaviors of women living with HIV. Studies, predominantly with men, show that people living with HIV continue to engage in risky behaviors after HIV diagnosis. Little work has been done at a national level to examine risk behaviors in women. An exploratory survey was conducted at the 1999 National Conference on Women and HIV/AIDS on 453 women living with HIV (WLH) representing all 50 states in both urban and rural settings. These WLH represent recent immigrants, commercial sex workers, women who have sex with women, women who have experienced partner violence or sexual assault, women who have been incarcerated, migrant workers, and homeless and low-income women. Issues examined in the survey included a wide range of variables incorporating sociodemographic information and sexual and drug risk behaviors.
It is critical to understand the prevention needs of WLH, particularly with implications of targeting and including WLH in primary prevention programs that historically had targeted at-risk HIV-negative groups. Primary prevention interventions must include HIV-infected individuals in order to optimize chances of interrupting HIV transmission. Data from this study are being analyzed using the SPSS statistical software and will be available by March 2000.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the participants in this session will be able to: 1) Identify the sexual and drug risk behaviors of women living with HIV/AIDS. 2) Assess the scope of prevention needs of women living with HIV/AIDS. 3) Use information provided to develop prevention programs for women living with HIV/AIDS
Keywords: Prevention, Risky Behaviors
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.