An Online Investigation of Young African American Women's Empowerment Profile for Engagement in HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Behaviors- Stages of Change, Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Role Models

Background:

Studies have shown that social support, self-efficacy, and role models impact women’s condom use, as well as empowerment to perform risk reduction behaviors. There is a need for researchers to assess and understand these dynamics in order to develop gender-specific and culturally competent HIV prevention services for African American women.

Methods:

This online investigation used a cross sectional design and a convenient sample of 195 African American women using a snowball technique and a social marketing campaign, inviting eligible women to complete the online survey. Participant’s empowerment profiles were measured using the newly developed Condom Use and Sexual Behavior Empowerment Scale (CUSBES-4), which measured risk reduction behaviors.  Regression analysis was used to determine the major predictors of participant’s stage of change.

Results:

Using multivariate and backward stepwise regression analysis with the tool’s stage of change score as the outcome variable, it was found that being in a higher stage of change for performing all risk reduction/condom-related behaviors was significantly predicted by living independently, personal sexual concurrency, higher self-efficacy and the existence of role models.

Conclusions:

There is a need for more understanding and better assessment of factors that impact African American women’s risk of HIV infection, specifically condom use behaviors. Increasing self-efficacy, social support, and access to role models may be a means of empowering women to make positive sexual decisions. Recommendations are offered, given how empowerment profiles may play an important role in tailoring interventions to address women’s sexual risk behavior, and in designing interventions and research studies.