212155 Using routine breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings as “teachable moments” to increase HIV testing among older women (50-64 years old) in the Deep South

Monday, November 9, 2009

Lisa Wigfall, PhD, MA, BSMT (ASCP) , Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina - Arnold School of Public Health (Department of Health Services Policy and Management), Columbia, SC
Donna L. Richter, EdD, FAAHB , Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Myriam E. Torres, PhD, MSPH , University of South Carolina, South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Columbia, SC
Wayne A. Duffus, MD, PhD , HIV and STD Medicine, South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control, Columbia, SC
Lucy Annang, PhD, MPH , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Lisa L. Lindley, DrPH, MPH, CHES , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Background: African American women of all ages have been hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Combined with physiological changes associated with aging, minority women may be at an increased risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS later in life, especially as the prevalence of HIV/AIDS continues to increase in persons 50 years and older. Older adults are often diagnosed with HIV late because they do not get tested. Some providers have even misdiagnosed AIDS symptoms as signs of aging.

Methods: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data (n=8348) from 2008 were analyzed. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to examine HIV testing behaviors of older (50-64 years) black and white (both non-Hispanic) women from the Deep South states.

Results: One fourth of participants reported having been tested for HIV, excluding testing done as part of a blood donation. Most women tested were 50-54 years old (50%), non-Hispanic white (63%) and married/partnered (59%). Older women up-to-date on cervical (84%) and colorectal cancer (62%) screenings were significantly more likely to have been tested for HIV. No associations were observed between HIV testing and mammography screening adherence.

Conclusions: Interventions aimed at reducing spread of HIV/AIDS among older adults are needed, yet few focus on the specific needs of this population. These findings suggest cervical and colorectal cancer screenings may represent opportunities to deliver HIV prevention messages to older women. More research is needed to learn how to help providers make the most of these “teachable moments” to increase the number of older adults who know their HIV status.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe HIV testing behaviors of older women (50-64 years old) in the Deep South. 2. Examine behavioral associations between HIV testing and breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening adherence among older women (50-64 years) in the Deep South. 3. Discuss using routine breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings as “teachable moments” to deliver culturally appropriate, HIV/AIDS prevention messages that address the specific needs and concerns of older women (50-64 years old) in the Deep South.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Cancer Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am pursuing my PhD in Health Promotion, Education, & Behavior. My research focuses on health care disparities impacting women.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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See more of: APHA-Committee on Women's Rights