The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41959

Shailey Merchant, MPH¹, Laura Mintz², Doreen Salina, PhD³, and Linda Lesondak, MA². (1) Howard Brown Health Center, 4025 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60613, 773 388-8926, shaileym@howardbrown.org, (2) Chicago Department of Public Health, 530 E. 31st St., Chicago, IL 60616, (3) Northwestern University Medical School, 333 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 1801, Chicago, IL 60601

Women who have sex with women (WSWs) have multiple identities which may sometimes conflict with both how they view themselves and their understanding of HIV risk behaviors. Women who engaged in sexual behavior with both men and women compared to women who had sex only with men were more likely to engage in multiple risk behaviors such as drug use, greater number of lifetime male partners, a sex partner who has had sex with a prostitute, an earlier age of sexual debut, and forced sexual contact (Gonzales et al., 1999). Methods of effectively addressing WSW HIV risk must encompass an understanding of the heterogeneity of behaviors and needs present within this group of women.

A series of focus groups were conducted to explore the complexities of understanding HIV risk for WSWs. A total of 60 women voluntarily participated in qualitative focus groups which were conducted in Chicago at an alternative women's jail program, at transitional home for women coming out of prison, substance abuse treatment centers, and at a homeless drop-in center for women. It was found that a majority of these women face a multitude of problems, including homophobia, poverty, substance abuse, lack of adequate information and culturally competent services.

This paper will present responses of WSWs regarding their health status, knowledge, stigmas, perceived barriers/risk factors associated with HIV prevention, health care needs, and same gender sexual behavior. Current programming and its effectiveness will also be discussed to determine the enormity of the need that exists in this community.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

• To assess the general health care needs of women who have sex with women.
• To identify barriers that exist within this population that hinder their ability to lead healthy lifestyles.
• To recognize that women who have sex with women are a hidden group of women at high-risk for HIV and other diseases and who are in need of prevention messages which address their behaviors and practices.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.