HIV vulnerability in women at social risk

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública 2008-10, Vol.42 (5), p.822-829
• Main Authors: Morales, Alfonso Urzúa, Barreda, Patricia Zúñiga
• Format: Article
• Language: por ; spa
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - prevention & control; Adolescent; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Chile - epidemiology; Condoms - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; Humans; Middle Aged; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Social Conditions; Socioeconomic Factors; Vulnerable Populations - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0034-8910; 1518-8787

To evaluate HIV/AIDS vulnerability by risk factors in women at social risk. Study conducted in a sample of 178 female homemakers (n=101) and female health providers (n=77) from Antofagasta, Chile, in 20062007. Homemakers were considered at social risk. HIV vulnerability was estimated through a 21-item instrument comprising three domains: gender roles; relationship with the partner; and attitude toward condom use. For determining the relative weight of each dimension to total vulnerability a multiple regression analysis was carried out using the instrument's total score as dependent variable and each domain as independent variable. Overall, the domain showing the highest relative weight was attitude toward condom use (0.542), followed by relationship with the partner (0.453) and gender roles (0.379). There were weight differences between homemakers: relationship with the partner (0.597), attitude toward condom use (0.508) and gender roles (0,403); and health providers: attitude toward condom use (0.638), relationship with the partner (0.397), and gender roles (0.307). The study results allows to inferring that there are differences in factors that determine HIV vulnerability among women and gender role is the best predictor of risk among those at social risk.