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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Diedre Darlene Berry, BS and Augusta M Villanueva, PhD. School of Public Health, MCP Hahnemann School of Public Health, MS 660, 1505 Race Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-762-6513, deubrea2001@aol.com
Selling sex for drugs has been associated with an increase in HIV seropositivity among low-income, minority women living in West Philadelphia (AACO, 1999). A study was conducted to find out why women who use recreational drugs do not access HIV Testing Services. An HIV Testing Behavior Survey was administered to a convenience sample (n=50) of low-income, minority females frequenting or dwelling in a geographic risk pocket in West Philadelphia. Respondents self-identified themselves as drug users. The survey was used to explore:
1. What are the barriers preventing women who use recreational drugs from accessing HIV Testing services? and 2. How do these women perceive their own risk of HIV infection?
Findings suggested that substance users were more likely than non-users to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, have multiple sex partners and therefore perceived themselves to be at greater risk for contracting and/or transmitting HIV/AIDS. Women also perceived access to appropriate medical services as the largest barrier to accessing HIV testing services. Finally, sex for drugs is their primary source of income as well as the primary route of HIV infection and transmission.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Access and Services
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.