Testing and treatment behaviour of HIV-infected women: white, African-American, Puerto Rican comparisons.
Findings from a study of the testing and treatment behaviour and experiences of African-American (n = 31), Puerto Rican (n = 30) and non-Hispanic white (n = 23) HIV-infected women are reported. All women were 20-45 years of age and had not yet been diagnosed with AIDS. Data for the analyses presented were gathered through an interviewer-administered questionnaire completed before respondents participated in an unstructured interview. The analyses examine race/ethnic differences in women's delays in seeking testing and medical care, and in sources and types of HIV-treatment. Most significant for primary and secondary prevention efforts, the findings suggest that a significant proportion of women who suspect they are infected may delay being tested, and further, a substantial proportion who learn they are seropositive may delay seeking medical care. Thus important opportunities among HIV-infected women for secondary prevention through timely antiviral and prophylactic treatment, and for primary prevention through risk-reduction counselling may be being missed in many cases.
Siegel
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K
Memorial Sloon-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Karus
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D
Raveis
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VH
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*