HIV TESTING AMONG LOW-INCOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN MOTHERS

HN testing patterns were examined among low-income African Americans w ho were mothers of young school-age children. In-person interviews wer e conducted to determine whether African-American women had been teste d for HIV; their sexual behaviors, including the number of sexual part ners and condom use; and health care access and utilization. Forty-one percent of the women had been tested for HIV; 18 percent tested more than once. Levels of education, source of primary health care, and typ e of insurance were not associated with HIV testing. The total number of sexual partners for their current lifetime and within the past five yeats was significantly associated with their HIV testing status (chi (2)=39.97; DF=3; p<.01 and chi(2)=66.68; DF=3; P<.01 respectively). Wo men who have used condoms during their last intercourse (20%) were les s likely to have been tested than women who did not use a condom (50%) (P<.01). Results suggest that low-income African-American women get t ested for HIV. This suggests that these women understand the concept o f risk and how certain behaviors may place them at risk. However, thes e women still confront conditions that place them at risk, such as hav ing sex with multiple partners and/or partners with a history of incar ceration, in addition to drug use. HIV testing may not serve as the mo st effective intervention for this sub-population of women. Educationa l and preventive measures should extend to women outside traditional h igh-risk populations by incorporating methods to promote protective be havioral changes which will empower women with self-esteem and confide nce.