title: Sexual assertiveness in low-income African American women: unwanted sex, survival, and HIV risk.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of social variables related to sexual relationships in African American women. The study used a quantitative descriptive design to gather data from a convenience sample of 524 African American women aged 18 to 49 who dwelled in the southeastern United States. The study utilized the HIV Risk Behavior Questionnaire to determine the participant's level of HIV risk. Results indicated substantial levels of sex in the women due to violence or fear of violence, relationship loss, lost shelter, and high levels of unwanted sex. There was a positive correlation between level of survival sex and high-risk behavior (R = .651, p < .01). Multiple correlations indicated associations between history of forced sex and sex due to fear of violence (R = .604, p < .01). Further correlations indicated a pattern of association between poverty, age, and sex out of fear of relationship loss or shelter loss. The study indicates a need for a broader definition of HIV-related risk in high-risk populations.
authors.affiliation: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA. jwhyte@nursing.fsu.edu
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whyte Iv
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D001242:Assertiveness; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology*; D011902:Rape / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*