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[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Self perceived risk, sexual behavior, and HIV testing experience of African Americans resident in the Mississippi Delta

Anthony Sallar, MPH, PhD, MBA, School of Health Sciences, Ohio University, Grover Center E335, Athens, OH 45701-2979, 740-593-0528, sallar@ohio.edu, Ademola M. Omishakin, MPH, PhD, MBA, Department of Natural Science & Environmental Health, Mississippi Valley State University, 14000 Highway 82 West #7298, Itta Bena, MS 38941, Debra Patton Lloyd, MS, PhDc, Department of Agriculture & Information Science, Mississippi State University, 130 Lloyd Ricks, Box 9731, Mississippi State, MS 39762, and P. Bassey Williams, PhD, CHES, GHEPPInc, P.O. 870, Baltimore, MD 39213.

BACKGROUND African-Americans (AA) have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS compared to other ethnic groups. Although AA constitute 12% of the US population, they presently account for over 50% of all HIV/AIDS cases in the US. It is imperative to increase awareness and mobilize AA communities in the struggle against HIV.

METHODS A cross sectional survey of 188 AA resident in the Mississippi Delta to assess participants' sexual behavior, HIV testing, self perceived risk, and self rated health status.

RESULTS Participants were 33% (males), mean age 34.9 years (sd ± 13.5). Reasons for HIV test (52.7%) were for pregnancy (23.5%), life insurance (25.9%), sexual behavior (34.6%), however 20% reported they would never take HIV test. The reasons were don't want to know status (23.5%), and inability to guarantee anonymity about test result (11.8%). Of the 67% engaging in sexual activity in previous 6 months, 40% had 2-6 partners. Although consistent condom use was by 43.7%, 90% rated their risk in contracting HIV low. About 20% reported HIV is a disease created by the US government to reduce AA population, 57.7% (no) and 21.6% (don't know), 45.6% believed there is a cure for AIDS but held from the poor.

CONCLUSION Testing is one approach being used to contain the epidemic. Prevention strategies in the delivery of AIDS prevention messages should guarantee test results anonymity. Three decades into the epidemic there still remains among AA suspicions about the US government. It is paramount to make removal of these misperceptions part of intervention messages.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives