Correlates of Intent for Repeat HIV Testing Among Low-Income Women Attending an Urgent Care Clinic in the Urban South

Abstract

A central challenge of the AIDS epidemic among African American women is promoting acceptance of repeat HIV testing among those at risk of infection. We conducted an exploratory study designed to identify behavioral and psychosocial correlates of intent for repeat HIV testing among women disenfranchised from traditional health care delivery systems. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 143women attending an urgent care center in the urban South. In multivariate analyses, three psychosocial correlates were significantly associated with women’s intent for repeat testing. Women who expressed less worry about HIV were substantially more likely, than those expressing greater worry, to report low intent for repeat testing [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=10.6, p=0.001]. Concern about having blood drawn was also robustly associated with intent (AOR=7.3, p=0.002). Finally, a one unit increase on the 5-point scale assessing less agreement that having HIV would make life complicated corresponded to 3.3 greater odds of indicating low intent (AOR=3.3, p=0.002). Study findings provide a potential focal point for efforts designed to promote repeat HIV testing among women from the study population.