title: Church Attendance as a Predictor of Number of Sexual Health Topics Discussed Among High-Risk HIV-Negative Black Women.
abstract: Research suggests that sexual health communication is associated with safer sex practices. In this study, we examined the relationship between church attendance and sexual health topics discussed with both friends and sexual partners among a sample of urban Black women. Participants were 434 HIV-negative Black women who were at high risk for contracting HIV through heterosexual sex. They were recruited from Baltimore, Maryland using a network-based sampling approach. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and Audio-Computer-Assisted Self-Interviews. Fifty-four percent of the participants attended church once a month or more (regular attendees). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that regular church attendance among high-risk HIV-negative Black women was a significant predictor of the number of sexual health topics discussed with both friends (AOR = 1.85, p = .003) and sexual partners (AOR = 1.68, p = .014). Future efforts to reduce HIV incidence among high-risk Black women may benefit from partnerships with churches that equip faith leaders and congregants with the tools to discuss sexual health topics with both their sexual partners and friends.
authors.affiliation: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, E4614, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. twilliams@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Terrinieka T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Latrice C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.affiliation: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, E4614, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davey-Rothwell
authors.affiliation: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, E4614, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Latkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015142:Baltimore; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D060728:Reproductive Health; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000208:ethnology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Church; HIV; Religion; Sexual health communication; Sexual risk reduction