Identifying diverse HIV risk groups among American Indian young adults: the utility of cluster analysis.
We demonstrate the utility of cluster analysis for identifying diverse HIV risk groups found in a community-based sample. Within a group of 706 American Indian young adults, we used cluster analysis to identify four profiles of HIV risk/protection. The High Efficacy/Low Risk cluster had high levels of knowledge/education, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations about HIV protection, with low levels of risk behaviors. Low Efficacy/Low Risk had low levels of HIV knowledge/education, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations, but high levels of perceived risk for HIV with low levels of HIV risk behaviors. Low Efficacy/Moderate Risk was similar to the previous group, but its members had moderately higher levels of several risk behaviors and higher condom use. Low Efficacy/High Risk had high rates of several high-risk behaviors such as exchanging sex for money or injection drug use. Validation analyses highlighted differences that can be useful for the development of preventive interventions.
Mitchell
Christina M
CM
American Indian and Alaska Native Programs, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA. christina.mitchell@uchsc.edu
Kaufman
Carol E
CE
Beals
Janette
J
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001364:Awareness; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012309:Risk-Taking; D020377:Self Efficacy