The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59994

April L. Winningham, DrPH¹, Sara J. Corwin, PhD², Charity G. Moore, PhD³, Donna L. Richter, EdD⁴, Roger G. Sargent, PhD⁵, and Cheryl Gore-Felton, PhD¹. (1) Medical College of Wisconsin, Center for AIDS Intervention Research, 2071 N. Summit Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202, 414-456-7740, awinning@mcw.edu, (2) School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Department of Medicine/ Division of Geriatrics, Columbia, SC 29203, (3) Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Health Sciences Building, Sumter Street, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, (4) Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Health Sciences Building, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, (5) Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of South Carolina, School of Public Health, Columbia, SC 29208

Objective: African American women age 50 and older are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 2001, they comprised 11% of the U.S. population of older women, but accounted for more than 50% of AIDS cases and more than 65% of HIV cases among older women. Using the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM) as a conceptual framework, this study investigated sexual behaviors and predictors of HIV risk among African American women (n=181) between the ages of 50 and 81. Methods: Women living in three rural counties of South Carolina completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire assessing their perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, peer behavior, partner communication, and sexual behaviors. Results: Two-thirds of the women reported having at least one sex partner in the last five years and of these two-thirds, more than half (59.5%) reported engaging in at least one HIV sexual risk behavior. Logistic regression analysis indicated that women reporting increased sexual risk behaviors for HIV transmission were less educated, had less self-efficacy in using condoms, reported more friends who expressed concern about HIV, and were less comfortable communicating with their partner about sex. Discussion: An alarming number of older African American women in this study reported sexual behaviors that put them at increased risk for HIV infection. This indicates an urgent need to create and implement HIV prevention programs specifically tailored for this population. Moreover, interventions that target psychosocial factors may be particularly effective in reducing risk behaviors among this population.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
• discuss the epidemiology of HIV and older adults, particularly older African American women,
• identify specific sexual risk behaviors among older African American women in rural South Carolina, and
• identify psychosocial factors within the conceptual framework of the AIDS Risk Reduction Model that are related to HIV risk among this population.

Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, HIV Risk Behavior

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.