Risk Behavior, Perceptions of HIV Risk, and Risk-Reduction Behavior Among a Small Group of Rural African American Women Who Use Drugs

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is a health crisis for African Americans. African American women are exposed to HIV primarily through sexual behavior, which is an increased risk for women who use drugs. The study design was a mixed method consisting of an ethnography with ongoing participant observation and in-depth interviews and a questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire component was to explore drug use, sexual behavior, health history, and perceptions. The questionnaire was administered at months 6 and 18. Data for this report were derived from the first questionnaire with 30 respondents. The majority of respondents (82.7%) used polysubstances consisting of cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. Between 33% and 50% exchanged sex for drugs or money, with less than half ever using condoms. About 37% perceived that they had no risk of acquiring HIV, whereas 52% perceived a 25% chance. The pattern of HIV testing in which 33% of the women were tested 10 times or more was unexpected because of the low perception of risk. The principal conclusion was that there is great need to intervene with prevention efforts targeting rural women who use drugs in an attempt to curb increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections including HIV.

Impact of Socio-Medical Factors on the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS Among Specific Subpopulations

“…Because men who have sex with men (MSMs) may not identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual because (1); they are on the insertive not receptive end of anal sex (Galanti, 2003;Nichols et al, 2002;Russell et al, 2000 ); and (2) also engage in sex with women., they place their female partners at great risk. For example, a study showed that 34% of Black men who reported having sex with men also reported having sex with women, while only 6% of the women reported knowledge of having sex with a bisexual male (Brown & Hook, 2006). The confluence of gender inequalities and taboos toward homosexuality and bisexuality, limits opportunities for education, intervention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS, putting women in Black and Latino communities at risk of contracting HIV.…”

Ethnic Identification: Its Impact on HIV/AIDS Risk among Migrant and Seasonal Workers in South Florida

“…Previous research has suggested that there is a link between drug abuse and risky sexual practices (Brown & Van Hook, 2006;Duncan, Boisjdy, Kremer, Levy, Eccles, 2005). Literature on the association between substance use and ethnic identity is scarce.…”

“…Positive alcohol expectancies have been suggested to be associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption in addition to engaging in sexual behaviors. Sexual behaviors under the influence of alcohol may lead to unprotected sexual acts, increasing the risk of HIV (Brown & Van Hook, 2006;Cooper, 2002;Seth, Wingood, DiClemente, & Robinson, 2011;. The alcohol expectancy measure, increased riskiness, was the only alcohol expectancy component to have a statistically significant relationship with ethnic identity explore.…”

“…Many articles have shown the link between drug abuse and risky sexual practices (Brown & Van Hook, 2006;Duncan, Boisjdy, Kremer, Levy, Eccles, 2005). However, studies addressing alcohol consumption at non-abuse levels are almost non-existent.…”

Bahamian Men's Sexual Risks for HIV Infection

“…Condom use is conceptually defined as an individual's self-report about frequency of condom use during sexual relations (Brown & Van Hook, 2006;John-Langba, 2007).…”