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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Deborah N. Pearlman, PhD, Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Brown University, Box G - B 213, Providence, RI 02912, 401 863 3211, deborah_pearlman@brown.edu, Abigail R. Averbach, MS, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108, and Sally Zierler, DrPh, Dept. of Community Health, Brown University Schools of Medicine, Box G-A4, Providence, RI 02912.
Objectives: To determine frequency of and barriers to HIV counseling and testing among a cohort of low-income pregnant and postpartum women.
Methods: A self-administered survey was completed by 418 pregnant or postpartum (< 3 months) women enrolled in the Massachusetts Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) Program, of whom 31% identified as Hispanic (n=129), 34% as Black or Haitian (n=144, 34%), and 35% as White (n=145). Racial/ethnic distributions of study participants mirrored that of women living with HIV in Massachusetts. Evidence for HIV counseling was based on 6 questions. HIV testing was based on number of times tested.
Results: Overall, 92% of women reported HIV counseling and 72% were tested during their pregnancy. While the number of women counseled about HIV and offered prenatal HIV testing was high, linear regression analyses found that Black women had a counseling frequency that was 57% greater (Beta=.57, SE=.27), and Hispanic women 62% greater (Beta=62, SE=.27) than White women, controlling for demographics, site of care, and knowledge of HIV status. Black women had a testing frequency that was 22% greater than White women (Beta=.22, SE=.09), controlling for demographics, site of care, knowledge of HIV status, and receipt of HIV counseling.
Conclusion: Disparities in HIV counseling and testing raise concerns about how "race," a marker for risk of systematic social prejudice and discrimination, may influence provider practices among low-income women.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Women's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.