HIV Related Knowledge, HIV Testing Decision-Making, and Perceptions of Alcohol Use as a Risk Factor for HIV among Black and African American Women

Abstract

The HIV/AIDS epidemic disproportionately affects Black and African American women in the United States. This study examined the extent of HIV related knowledge, HIV testing decision-making, and perceptions of alcohol use as a risk factor for HIV among Black and African American women in urban and suburban communities. Seven focus groups were conducted with 37 women aged 18 to 49 residing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Women participating in focus groups had a wide breadth of HIV related knowledge. Findings suggest the influence of interpersonal relationships and provider–patient interactions on HIV testing, the need for building community capacity and leveraging community resources towards HIV prevention, and the influence of alcohol outlet density on HIV vulnerability and exposure in communities of color. Comprehensive multifaceted evidence informed interventions that are culturally relevant and gender responsive are needed to reduce HIV/AIDS disparities.

HIV Testing and Knowledge among Young Women in Rwanda: An Analysis of 2019-2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey

“…The findings showed that young women who had high knowledge index were more Vol.12; Issue: 11; November 2022 likely to test for HIV than those who had low knowledge and medium index. This is in line with other research studies done in Senegal and Zambia [7][8][9][10]17]. This might be due to that young women who had high knowledge index had comprehensive knowledge about HIV including HIV transmission, prevention and understand the benefit of knowing their HIV status.…”

“…Various studies have showed that Knowledge about HIV is important factor in HIV testing. Various studies have showed the impact of HIV related knowledge of HIV testing [7][8][9][10]. In Rwanda, from 2005 up to 2020, the prevalence of HIV infection stayed unchanging at 3%in Rwanda [11].…”

Undiagnosed HIV in Patients on Immunosuppressive Medications Presenting with HIV-Associated Kidney Disease

“…Ongoing experiences of discrimination have been associated with a lower likelihood of HIV testing among Black women 15,16,37 . Targeted interventions toward African American females using gender- or culture-specific materials, female speakers, and focused skills training sessions have been shown to be more effective at preventing HIV infection 34,38 . Using these targeted approaches may help normalize and overcome HIV-related medical mistrust, IPV experiences, discrimination, and engrained stigma when counseling on HIV testing.…”