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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Michele A. Rountree, PhD, Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd., Rm. 3.122E, Mailcode D3500, Austin, TX 78712-0358, 512-471-7160, mrountree@mail.utexas.edu

Women, particularly women of color are at heightened risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Evidence based research suggests a link between women who have experienced IPA and their exposure to HIV/AIDS. These studies recommend domestic violence (DV) shelters as a venue for assessing a client's risk for HIV/AIDS and in providing HIV/AIDS prevention information. As gender and racial inequalities often create inequitable access that may translate to a structural level; this study investigated the presence or absence of HIV/AIDS services within DV shelters in the state of Arizona. Surveys were used to determine if shelters (n=21) assess women's risk for HIV/AIDS and provide prevention programming. Analysis of survey data included descriptive statistics to more sophisticated techniques, such as linear (OLS) regressions. The results of the study corroborate the original hypothesis that shelters lack HIV/AIDS programming to meet the increased risk for HIV/AIDS infection of their clients. While 19 (90.5%) of the respondents reported they routinely ask questions as to whether clients have been sexually abused within their relationships, the data would show there is an absent link between a woman's disclosure of sexual abuse and services related to her risk for infection. HIV/AIDS awareness among respondents was high, but HIV/AIDS services were practically non- existent. Access to information related to risk for infection and HIV/AIDS prevention geared towards the unique needs of women who have experienced IPA is power, power of information and power of choice.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the prevalence rates of IPV and HIV/AIDS for women, particularly women of color and the impact of the intersecting phenomena’s on this population.
• Articulate recommendations for practice, policy, and programmatic inclusion of HIV/AIDS services within domestic violence shelters.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered