Service usage reported by HIV positive and negative women in Los Angeles County, California

BACKGROUND HIV positive women may have unmet treatment and social service needs. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify services used by women from a wide range of service providers offering both HIV prevention and treatment services. METHODS A Countywide Risk Assessment Survey was administered to 2126 participants receiving HIV prevention services in Los Angeles County. Behavioral risk factors were examined for the 1541 individuals reporting having ever received the results of an HIV test. RESULTS Women comprised of 17.7% (65/367) of clients who received positive results for an HIV test 23.8% (367/1541). The women positive for HIV were more likely to be African American (40%) and Hispanic (35.4%), and had an age range of 19 to 60 years (M = 36.6, SD = 9.21). Logistic regression indicated that HIV positive women were more likely to report use of treatment adherence services p <.0001, odds ratio = 12.306, 95% CI [4.95, 30.56] and counseling and mental health services p = .0007, odds ratio = 4.551, 95% CI [1.90, 10.90]. Women reporting alcohol use within 6 months of receiving HIV prevention services were less likely to be HIV positive p = .0008, odds ratio = 0.300 , 95% CI [0.15, 0.61], as were women with a history of attending a drug or alcohol treatment program p = .0012, odds ratio = 0.194 , 95% CI [0.07, 0.52]. CONCLUSION This study revealed that women's use of services varied by HIV status.