Examining The Relationship Between The Health Belief Model Risk Factors Predictors And Potential Prep Use Among Hiv Uninfected African American Women Aged 20-44
No Thumbnail Available
Links to Files
Permanent Link
Collections
Author/Creator
Author/Creator ORCID
Date
2017
Type of Work
Department
Public Health and Policy
Program
Doctor of Public Health
Citation of Original Publication
Rights
This item is made available by Morgan State University for personal, educational, and research purposes in accordance with Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Other uses may require permission from the copyright owner.
Subjects
Abstract
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, commonly known as HIV, is a virus that leads to the development of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which is incurable (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014); nonetheless, treatments are available which have been proven to successfully manage the progression of the virus and thus prolong life of the affected (CDC, 2014). In a 2015 report by the World Health Organization, the global prevalence of HIV was put at 36.9 million and this included a significant global figure of approximately two million new infections and 1.2 million deaths at the end of 2014 (WHO, 2012). In a 2012 report by the CDC, the estimate of those who are HIV-infected was put at 1.2 million and with a forecast of 50,000 new cases each year (CDC, 2012). Women are commonly infected via the heterosexual route. This accounts for at least 90% of HIV infections in women. In regards to both prevalence and mortality rates, African American women have been more significantly affected. Truvada, also referred to as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), is the first medication approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the purpose of preventing HIV infection. This study examined the odds of PrEP use solely among African American women by comparing the relationship between risk taking behaviors of the Health Belief Model and the likelihood of PrEP use by demographic profile. A secondary data analysis from the 2013 National Survey on the potential adoption of PrEP was analyzed in this study. The sample for this study was 791 African American women aged 20-44. The Health Belief Model constructs serving as predictor risk factors for PrEP use were perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy. Each of the constructs had independent variables assigned to them which included having other sexual partners, being diagnosed with genital herpes, getting tested for STDs, using condoms, asking a partner to use condoms, refusing unprotected sex, IPV, avoiding asking about partner's sexual history, and agreeing to partner's sexual requests. Chi-Square analysis was used to identity the relationship between each of the independent variables and the outcome variable of PrEP use. A multivariate logistic regression was used to examine if these variables were predictors of potential PrEP use before and after adjusting for confounders. Findings revealed that women with higher levels of perceived barriers were more likely to use PrEP (OR = 2.46, p < 0.05, 95% CI [1.18, 5.13]). Income was a predictor in potential PrEP use showing those earning less than $15,000 per annum were more likely to use PrEP (OR = 1.83, p < 0.01, 95% CI [1.16, 2.87]). When variables were adjusted for confounders, those having increased perceived barriers were still a statistically significant factor in predicting PrEP use. Results indicate that younger women of lower socioeconomic status (SES) were more likely to use PrEP compared to older women of higher SES. This has significant implications for public health practice, policy, and opportunities for further research.