HIV Risk Behaviors and Testing History in Historically Black College and University Settings

• Published in: Public health reports (1974) 2008-11, Vol.123 (3_suppl), p.115-125
• Main Authors: Thomas, Peter E., Voetsch, Andrew C., Song, Binwei, Calloway, Denyce, Goode, Carolyn, Mundey, Lynette, Nobles, Joanne, Sly, Kaye, Smith, Michelle R., Williams, Brenda, Shiloh, Mattie, Patterson, Kevin, Ward, Sybil, Sullivan, Patrick S., Heffelfinger, James D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; African Americans; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Age; AIDS; AIDS serodiagnosis; AIDS Serodiagnosis - statistics & numerical data; Behavior; Black colleges; Categories; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); College students; Colleges & universities; Communities; Demographics; Diagnostic tests; Directive Counseling; Disease control; Disease transmission; Education; Female; Health Behavior; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Health services; Historical account; Historically Black Colleges & Universities; HIV; HIV infections; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV TESTING IN NONCLINICAL SETTINGS; Human behavior; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human sexual behavior; Humans; Infections; Male; Mating behavior; Medical tests; Mental health; Minority & ethnic groups; Polls & surveys; Prevention; Public health; Respondents; Risk behavior; Risk Factors; Risk perception; Risk taking; School campuses; School surveys; Sexual Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Students; Students - statistics & numerical data; United States - epidemiology; Universities - statistics & numerical data; Viruses; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0033-3549; 1468-2877
• DOI: 10.1177/00333549081230S314

Objectives. From 2001 through 2005, African Americans accounted for the largest percentage of new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in all age categories, especially among people aged 13 to 24 years. Although students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) report many of the behaviors that promote HIV transmission, their risk behaviors and HIV testing practices have not been well-characterized. We compared the demographic and behavioral characteristics of people who have been previously tested for HIV with those of people tested for the first time in this demonstration project to increase HIV testing at HBCUs. Methods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and collaborating partners conducted rapid HIV testing and behavioral surveys at HBCUs in Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C., from January 2005 to April 2007. We recruited a convenience sample of students and community members at different campus venues including student health centers, dormitories, and student activity centers. Results. Our analysis included 5,291 people, 42% of whom reported they had never been tested for HIV. People who had been tested in the past were more likely to be older, believe they were at high risk for infection, have visited a health-care facility, and report behaviors that increased their risk of HIV infection. Conclusion. Respondents who believed they were at increased risk for HIV infection or reported behaviors that increased their risk for infection were more likely to have been tested for HIV. Future research should compare actual vs. perceived risk for HIV infection and contrast how each impacts HIV testing.