title: HIV Testing Experience and Risk Behavior Among Sexually Active Black Young Adults: A CBPR-Based Study Using Respondent-Driven Sampling in Durham, North Carolina.
abstract: African Americans are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic inclusive of men who have sex with men, heterosexual men, and women. As part of a community-based participatory research study we assessed HIV testing experience among sexually active 18-30 year old Black men and women in Durham, NC. Of 508 participants, 173 (74 %) men and 236 (86 %; p = 0.0008) women reported ever being tested. Barriers to testing (e.g., perceived risk and stigma) were the same for men and women, but men fell behind mainly because a primary facilitator of testing-routine screening in clinical settings-was more effective at reaching women. Structural and behavioral risk factors associated with HIV infection were prevalent but did not predict HIV testing experience. Reduced access to health care services for low income Black young adults may exacerbate HIV testing barriers that already exist for men and undermine previous success rates in reaching women.
authors.affiliation: Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, FHI 360, 359 Blackwell Street, Suite 200, Durham, NC, 27701, USA, kmacqueen@fhi360.org.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: MacQueen
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.forename: Monique P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okumu
authors.forename: Natalie T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Eley
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laws
authors.forename: Malika Roman
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Isler
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalloo
authors.forename: Randy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013240:Stereotyping; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult