142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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301442
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

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 10:50 AM - 11:05 AM

Sheba King, EdD , Behavioral and Social Health Outcomes Program (BSHOP), US Army Public Health Command, APG-EA, MD
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.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Assess factors that impact African American women’s risk of HIV infection, specifically condom use behaviors. Discuss recommendations for tailoring interventions to address women’s sexual risk behavior, and in designing interventions and research studies.

Keyword(s): HIV Risk Behavior, Women and HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I recently graduated from Columbia University, Teachers College with and EdD in Health Education; the abstract I am submitting is based on my dissertation results. I have over 8 years of experience in coordinating research studies including grants management,data collection, entry and analysis, specifically in the area of HIV prevention in the African American community.
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.

Back to: 4138.0: Women and HIV/AIDS