Volume 1:
No. 2, April 2004
SPECIAL TOPICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
ORIGINAL RESEARCH: FEATURED
ABSTRACT FROM THE 18TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHRONIC DISEASE
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Whose Choice Is It?
Understanding HIV Risk Among African American Women
EM Yancey, LM Goodin, M Wang
Suggested citation for this article: Yancey EM,
Goodin LM, Wang M. Whose choice is it? Understanding HIV risk among African
American women [abstract]. Prev Chronic Dis [serial online] 2004 Apr [date
cited]. Available from: URL: http://www.cy118119.com/pcd/issues/2004/
apr/03_0034t.htm.
PEER REVIEWED
The types and prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk
behaviors among African American women ages 17 to 44 years were identified
and an intervention was developed to reduce the risk of HIV infection by
addressing culture and gender issues specific to these women.
In this intervention, we identified communities with high incidences of
HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among African
American women.
Before and after the intervention, an HIV Risk Reduction Survey was
administered to 422 women to assess risk behavior variables. Focus groups
were conducted. An intervention was developed and conducted that consisted
of 7 weekly sessions. The intervention used this project's research findings and incorporated the
theoretical underpinnings of 2 concepts: Ntu (an Africentric model of
spiritual beliefs, practices, culture, and interpersonal relationships) and the Theory of
Gender and Power (a social theory about sexual inequities, gender and power,
and balances).
Intervention and control group comparisons before and after the
intervention indicate a significant increase in HIV knowledge among women in
the intervention group, based on the 12-item HIV Knowledge Scale in the
Morehouse School of Medicine HIV Reduction in African American Women Survey:
Intervention
group mean scores
pre-intervention vs post-intervention were 8.66 vs 10.01; control group mean
scores pre-intervention vs post-intervention were 8.41 vs 8.42 (P = .01). Intention to use condoms increased among
women in the intervention group but decreased among women in the control
group, based on the 4-item Condom Barrier Beliefs construct (using a Likert
scale of 1 to 4) in the Morehouse Survey: Intervention group mean pre-intervention vs post-intervention
was 1.64 vs 1.69; control group mean
pre-intervention vs post-intervention was 1.64 vs 1.61 (P
= .05). Personal risk perceptions increased in both groups (using a 1-item
Likert scale of 1 to 5), although less in
the intervention group: Intervention group mean pre-intervention vs
post-intervention was 1.95 vs 2.01; control group mean pre-intervention vs
post-intervention was 1.96 vs 2.33 (P = .05).
Interventions to reduce the risk of HIV infection among African American
women should help them understand relationships, facilitate increased
knowledge about HIV, and support attitude and behavior changes within the
context of their culture and environment. Women in this study showed an
interest in seeking information on reducing their risk of HIV infection and
possibly initiating steps toward behavior change. A sustained and protracted
effort might be needed to help this population move from increased
understanding to sustained behavior change.
Corresponding Author: Elleen Yancey, PhD, Center Director, Morehouse
School of Medicine, Prevention Research Center, 720 Westview Drive SW,
Atlanta, GA 30310. Telephone: 404-752-1511. E-mail: yanceye@msm.edu.
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