Social, Behavioral, and Health Care Factors Associated With Recent HIV Testing Among Sexually Active Non-Hispanic Black Women In The United States

Purpose

We examined the prevalence of recent HIV testing among sexually active adult Black women in the United States and the social, behavioral, and health care factors associated with their receipt of these services.

Methods

Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth were obtained. Our analyses focused on 1,122 sexually active non-Hispanic Black women aged 18–44 years. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted on the total sample of women and on 3 subsamples of women, stratified by age group.

Main Findings

Only 29% of the total sample of women reported recent HIV testing. Younger age and recent Pap testing were positively associated with recent HIV testing, whereas uninsurance and no recent pregnancy were negatively associated with recent HIV testing. Unique factors of recent HIV testing also were revealed for each age group.

Conclusions

A low prevalence of Black women received HIV testing in 2001 and 2002. Efforts to facilitate access to and utilization of health care are needed because these factors were associated with HIV testing. Public health messages to increase HIV testing among this vulnerable population of women also need to consider the factors unique to each age group.