Acceptance of a potential HIV/AIDS vaccine among minority women.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the attitudes, opinions and concerns of minority women regarding acceptance of a potential HIV/ AIDS vaccine.


METHODS
In-depth interviews were conducted with high-risk minority women (> or =18 years of age) attending an urban Atlanta health clinic specializing in sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Interviews were transcribed and content analyzed to identify common factors related to acceptance of an HIV/AIDS vaccine.


RESULTS
Nine major themes were identified. These were general acceptance of an HIV/AIDS vaccine, concerns about the vaccine, vaccine knowledge, testing and research, provider recommendation, mistrust, alternative medicine, misperceptions and vaccine accessibility/availability. A strong theme emerged about the need for information from HIV/AIDS vaccine clinical trials, including the demographics of the studies' volunteer base, to inform decision-making about taking an HIV/AIDS vaccine in the future.


CONCLUSIONS
Although fewer than half of the women indicated they would receive or recommend the vaccine, most agreed that development of a vaccine was an important endeavor. The findings of this study may assist in future efforts to determine how best to promote acceptance of an HIV/AIDS vaccine to minority women should one become available.
Frew
Paula M
PM
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA 30030, USA. pfrew@emory.edu
Crosby
Richard A
RA
Salazar
Laura F
LF
Gallinot
Lauren P
LP
Bryant
Lawrence O
LO
Holtgrave
David R
DR
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D054525:Minority Health; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014505:Urban Population
D016915:AIDS Vaccines