title: Perceptions of Community HIV/STI Risk Among U.S Women Living in Areas with High Poverty and HIV Prevalence Rates.
abstract: Although studies have consistently demonstrated that women at high risk for HIV and non-HIV sexually transmitted infections (STIs) tend to underestimate their individual risk, little is known about how women at risk perceive their community's HIV/STI risk. We explored perceptions of community HIV/STI risk among U.S. women living in areas with high poverty and HIV prevalence rates as part of a qualitative substudy of the Women's HIV SeroIncidence Study. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted. Data were coded and analyzed using the constant comparative method. Participants expressed the perception that their communities were at elevated HIV/STI risk, mostly due to contextual and structural factors such as lack of access to health care and education. Findings suggest that HIV prevention messages that target U.S. women at high risk for HIV may be strengthened by addressing the high perceived community HIV/STI risk driven by structural factors.
authors: Oni J
authors: OJ
authors: Blackstock
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Frew
authors: Dorothy
authors: D
authors: Bota
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Vo-Green
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Parker
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Franks
authors: Sally L
authors: SL
authors: Hodder
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Justman
authors: Carol E
authors: CE
authors: Golin
authors: Danielle F
authors: DF
authors: Haley
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Kuo
authors: Adaora A
authors: AA
authors: Adimora
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Rompalo
authors: Lydia
authors: L
authors: Soto-Torres
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Sharon B
authors: SB
authors: Mannheimer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015995:Prevalence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult