 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Joan Tucker, PhD, Suzanne Wenzel, PhD, Marc Elliott, MA, PhD, Katrin Hambarsoomians, MS, and Daniela Golinelli, PhD. RAND, 1700 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407, 310-393-0411, jtucker@rand.org
Poor women of color are at high risk for HIV infection and early detection is critical for minimizing morbidity and further transmission. This study investigated the prevalence, location and correlates of HIV testing in a random sample of women drawn from shelters (n = 460) and low-income housing units (n = 438) in Los Angeles County. Most women (83%) had been tested, with the most common location being a clinic or doctor's office (82%). Sheltered women were more likely to have ever been tested and, among those tested, to obtain testing in a treatment program, mobile van, hospital/emergency room, or jail. Multivariate analyses indicated that testing was more likely among women who: were sampled from shelters, younger, or living with a child; had a regular source of medical care; were drug or alcohol dependent in the past year; experienced sexual violence; and were at low risk for mental health problems. Few women reported lack of money, transportation, or access to testing facilities as primary barriers to being tested. Although our results suggest that most impoverished women in our study area did not experience significant impediments to HIV testing, programs to encourage testing among older women, stably housed women who lack a regular source of care, and women at high risk for mental health problems may be warranted.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS,
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.