Abstract
The epidemiology of HIV in urban centers of the United States such as the District of Columbia (DC) is dynamic with rates of new HIV and AIDS diagnoses as well as risk factors elevated. Correlates of HIV among heterosexual women extend beyond traditional, individual risk factors to structural factors. The purpose of this study was to compare proportions of HIV and correlates of HIV among women participating in National HIV behavioral surveillance (NHBS) system in 2006-7 (NHBS Cycle 1) and 2010 (NHBS Cycle 2). Analysis of 677 female participants at elevated risk for HIV revealed high prevalence of individual-level HIV-associated risk factors (e.g., sexual behavior) and socio-structural associated risk factors (e.g., homelessness, incarceration, lack of health insurance). While a greater proportion of women were HIV-infected in Cycle 2, after controlling for the distribution of demographic characteristics to adjust for a change in eligibility criteria, the pooled sample did not reveal a significantly increased proportion of HIV-infected women in Cycle 2. Homelessness and condom use were associated with greater relative odds of HIV after adjustment for confounders, and non-injection drug use was associated with reduced odds. Findings inform our understanding of the continuing HIV epidemic in DC and support development of effective interventions to slow the epidemic among women in DC and similar urban centers.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S256-S265 |
| Journal | AIDS and behavior |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | SUPPL. 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2014 |
Funding
Acknowledgments For their assistance and expertise throughout the study, the authors acknowledge Ms. Luz Montanez of GWU SPHHS; Dr. Gregory Pappas of the DC DOH/HAHSTA; Dr. Amanda Castel of GWU SPHHS; Dr. Isa Miles, Dr. Elizabeth DiNenno, Ms. Tricia Martin, and Dr. Amy Lansky of CDC; and the WORD UP Community Advisory Board Members. Dr. Flora Hamilton and Angela Wood were critical in the conduct of the study and we are deeply grateful for the support and partnership of Family and Medical Counseling Service, Inc. We also acknowledge each of the MPH student interviewers who staff NHBS in DC each year. This study could not have been conducted without the enormous support of our community partners and the staff at Family and Medical Counseling Service, Inc. For their participation in and support of NHBS, the study team would like to acknowledge the participants of the study and the citizens of the District of Columbia, without whom this study would not have been possible. Authors are grateful for the support and guidance provided by the District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (DC D-CFAR), an NIH-funded program (P30AI087714). This study was funded by District of Columbia, Department of Health/HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis (DC DOH/HAHSTA), Contract Number DCPO-2011-C-0073, funded in part by Grant Number PS000966-01, from the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All co-authors have reviewed and approved of the final draft of the paper including those from DC DOH/HAHSTA. Under the Partnership contract, DC DOH/HAHSTA had the right to review and approve the manuscript. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of DHHS/CDC and responsibility for the content rests solely with the authors.
Keywords
- Behavioral surveillance
- HIV/AIDS
- HIV/AIDS prevention
- Heterosexual women
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
