 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
P. Bassey Williams, PhD, CHES, MPH/DrPH Public Health Program, Morgan State University, 343 Jenkins Building, 1700 Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251-0001, (433) 885 -2044, bawilliams@moac.morgan.edu, Ifeyinwa E. Udezulu, PhD, Department of Political Science & Public Policy, Delaware State University, 1200 Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901-2277, Olugbemiga Ekundayo, MD, MPH, The MPH/DrPH Program, Department of Public Health, Morgan State University, 343 Jenkens Builging, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251-0001, and Mian B. Hossain, MSC, MHS, PhD, MPH/DrPH Public Health Program, Morgan State University, 343 Jenkins Building, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251-0001.
A number of studies have revealed significant health disparities among US populations by race/ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status. Eliminating these inequalities which is the corner-stone of the Healthy People 2010 requires new approaches, knowledge and attitudes about the determinants of diseases and effective interventions for their prevention and control. Recent statistics have also indicated sustained higher HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence rates among African-Americans, and the lack of specific baseline data on knowledge, attitude/feelings, beliefs and behavior of African-American women towards HIV infections. Such baseline data are necessary for planning and implementing competent HIV/AIDS health promotion and disease prevention programs for minority communities. This study which presents a cross-sectional survey approach utilized an open-ended AKFBQ ethnically-sensitive and gender-specific instrument to assess level of understandings, feeling/attitude, myths and misconceptions, and the various high-risk behavioral factors that impact the mortality and spread of HIV/AIDS among Black women in the two urban communities (Baltimore & Dover). Although level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS was higher among urban subjects of Baltimore than Dover, their beliefs, attitude/feelings and potentials for behavioral change did not differ significantly among women in the two urban communities. This paper advocates both ethnic/gender-specific HIV/AIDS intervention program for African-Americans; and greater active involvement of Black leaders, parents and faith-based communities in AIDS control programs for African-American women and their children.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Minority Research
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.