Correlates of HIV testing among racial/ethnic minority women in the US

Objectives:

To investigate how the correlates of HIV testing behaviors differ by race/ethnicity among women.

Methods:

Data were derived from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Wave 3 (White, n=5,112, Black, n=1,902, Hispanic, n=1,069, and Asian, n=604 women were included). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess correlates of HIV testing behaviors in the past 12 months. Individual factors, sexual risk behaviors, STD history of individuals' and partners, health belief model, and insurance status were entered for the explanatory variables.

Findings:

Twenty percent (n=1,530) women reported that they had been tested for HIV in the past year. Black women (23.9%) had the highest rates of HIV testing followed by White (20.1%), Hispanic (17.5%), and Asian women (11.2%). Among Black women, the strongest predictor was having gone to see a doctor because they suspected to have an STD (odds ratio, 3.7). Among Hispanic women, those who were US born or who had early sexual debut had higher odds of HIV testing (5.1, 2.4, respectively). Among Asians, multiple sex partners (3.0) and believing that STDs are not readily responsive to treatment (0.4) were associated with testing behaviors. Although continuous insurance coverage increased odds of testing among White (8.3), Black (2.1), and Hispanic (5.4) women, this was not the case for Asian American women.

Conclusion:

Continuous insurance coverage is associated with HIV testing all racial groups except Asians. Policies targeting early detection of HIV infection in this population should also focus on different social and psychological risk factors within each race/ethnicity group.