Perceived susceptibility to HIV infection among Asian and Pacific Islanderwomen in San Diego

Recent reports indicate that AIDS is increasing among Asian and Pacific Isl ander populations. Data from 249 women sampled from nine Asian and Pacific Islander communities in San Diego County from 1993 to 1995 were examined to determine what factors contributed to perceived susceptibility to HIV infe ction and having had an HN test. Thirteen percent of women sampled were cla ssified as high risk for HN infection, while half of the women reported per ceived susceptibility to HIV; Years in the United States and ethnicity appe ared to be effect modifiers of the relationship between risk behaviors and perceived susceptibility. In the multivariate model, high school education or greater, age of 30 or more, participation in risk behaviors, and knowing an HIV-positive person were significantly associated with perceived suscep tibility. Reliability of self-reported sexual behavior was somewhat low whi le the reliability of data relating to injection drug use and needle sharin g was high.