Demographic correlates of HIV testing, high-risk behaviors, and condom/STD consultation among a multi-ethnic sample of women.
BACKGROUND
In the United States, HIV rates are disproportionately high among black women, with 78% of cases attributed to heterosexual transmission. This analysis examined HIV testing, high risk behaviors and condom use consultation for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among a diverse sample of women.


METHODS
Secondary analyses were conducted using data from the 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This dataset included a sample of 43,550 (12% black, 79% white, and 9% Hispanic) women aged 18 to 49 years, living in the United States. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that ethnic group differences existed for past-year HIV test, high-risk behaviors, and condom use consultation even after we controlled for age, education,income, employment status, and region of residence. Black women were three times more likely than white women to report a past-year HIV test and Hispanic women were 50% more likely than white women and report a past-year HIV test. Women who reported receiving condom use consultations were most likely to be Hispanic, 30 to 34 years old, and residents of the northeast.


CONCLUSIONS
Initiatives to promote HIV testing appeared to have affected HIV testing behaviors among black women. However, increased HIV testing among black women was not associated with an increased likelihood of condom use counseling by a healthcare professional. More emphasis on HIV counseling is warranted to assist with HIV risk reduction and to complement HIV testing initiatives.
Brown
Nakia C
NC
NOVA Research Company, 4600 East-West Highway, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. ncbrown@novaresearch.com
Taylor
Erika D
ED
Mulatu
Mesfin S
MS
Scott
Wakina
W
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*