Behaviors Of African American Women Research Articles

HIV Risk Reduction in Rural African American Women Who Use Cocaine

ABSTRACT Research has demonstrated associations between cocaine use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). More research has been conducted among the sub-population of women, with less focus on rural African American women. Investigation of the social context that influences rural African American women's behavior that places them at risk for STI/HIV has received limited attention. The results of one component of the comprehensive study presented here focused on perceived STI/HIV risk reduction strategies of U.S. southern rural African American women who used cocaine. This ethnographic study of 30 rural African American women using cocaine was conducted over four years. Respondents described HIV risk reduction strategies and their motives for using them. Condoms were used more with casual partners (80%) than primary partners (16%) and with partners who were less known, less trusted, young, or physically or sexually “dirty.” Condoms were also used to prevent pregnancy (60%) more than to prevent STI/HIV (40%). HIV testing patterns varied, as did the motives for seeking testing. The sexual behavior of the women in this study exposed them to increased risk of STI/HIV. Although many perceived that they were using sexual risk reduction strategies, these strategies were not scientifically sound risk reduction strategies. Consequently, their exposure to STI/HIV continued as they used ineffective strategies both in assessing partner risk and in implementing risk reduction behaviors.

Care‐seeking behaviors of African American women with breast cancer symptoms

In this descriptive correlational study, 48 African American women were assessed for delay in care-seeking for breast cancer symptoms by examining: (a) relationships between selected psychosocial variables (fear, denial, utility, and social norm) and delay, (b) relationships between delay and having an identified health provider, affordable health care services, and accessible health-care services, (c) whether denial would mediate the effect of fear on delay, (d) whether utility would moderate the effects of social norm and facilitating conditions on delay, and (e) whether denial was related to escape-avoidance coping. Participants completed mailed questionnaires. Pearson correlation and separate regression analyses showed that denial was associated with increased delay. Confrontive coping, social support, and problem-solving strategies had no relationship with delay. Interventions focusing on denial could help enhance early care seeking.

Heterogeneity in the smoking behavior of African American women.

To assess the association between sociodemographic variables and smoking behavior patterns of African American women. Six years of data (N=14,903) from the National Health Interview Surveys were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. African American women in the South were more likely to never smoke and to start smoking later than women in the Northeast. Positive smoking outcomes (never smoking, initiating smoking at later ages, and quitting) were associated with higher education, higher income, and being married. Variations among African American women suggest the need for targeting specific subgroups at greater risks to reduce disparities in smoking and smoking-related diseases.

Heterogeneity in the Smoking Behavior of African American Women

Heterogeneity in the Smoking Behavior of African American Women

Estimates of Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Childhood and Adult Dietary Behaviors of African American Women

Objective This exploratory study examined how estimates of one's fruit and vegetable intake in childhood are related to 3 current dietary behaviors among African American women: intake of fruits and vegetables, exposure to and preference for fruits and vegetables, and preference for trying new foods. Design Baseline data from a randomized dietary intervention trial. Setting Ten urban public health centers in St. Louis, Missouri. Participants 1227 African American women. Variables Measured A 33-item fruit and vegetable food frequency questionnaire, items measuring estimates of childhood fruit and vegetable intake, adult fruit and vegetable intake, exposure to and preference for fruit and vegetable, and preference for trying new foods. Analysis Linear regression evaluated the association between predictors and continuous measures; logistic regression determined the association between predictors and categorical measures. Results Estimates of one's vegetable intake as a child were significantly related to exposure and preference for both fruits and vegetables, trying of new foods, and intake of both fruits and vegetables in adulthood. Estimates of eating fruit as a child were not significantly associated with these adult dietary behaviors. Conclusions and Implications Developmental influences on adult dietary patterns may be stronger for vegetables than fruits among African American women. Additional emphasis is needed regarding exposure to and preference for vegetable intake in childhood.

Another Look at HIV in African American Women: The Impact of Psychosocial and Contextual Factors

This study tested a conceptual model that integrates structural and psychological determinants of HIV prevention for African American women. The sample consisted of African American mothers (N = 129) of children in Head Start programs. Higher levels of perceived stress were associated with higher levels of HIV risk; higher levels of perceived racism were related to higher HIV prevention behavior. A combined psychological functioning score, representing levels of depression and anger, significantly moderated the relationships of perceived stress and racism to prevention behavior. This study confirms the importance of interactions between sociostructural factors and psychological factors as predictors of health behavioral outcomes and reinforces the need to examine the impact of structural factors on psychological functioning, perceived HIV risk, and HIV prevention behavior in African American women.

The Relationship between HIV-Related Knowledge and Safe Sexual Behavior in African American Women Dwelling in the Rural Southeast

There is an epidemiological shift toward increased rates of HIV infection in African American women, despite widely available information regarding HIV prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between HIV-related knowledge and high-risk sexual behavior while controlling for related variables. A multivariate regression model was selected to differentiate the effects of these variables. The participants were 75 African American women, aged 18 to 38. The results indicated a positive relationship between HIV-related knowledge and high-risk sexual behaviors using the Pearson's r correlation coefficient (0.411, p < .001). Age of first sexual experience, number of lifetime sexual partners, income, educational level, and level of HIV-related knowledge were then regressed onto level of high risk sexual behavior using a hierarchical techniques. Only total years of education achieved statistical significance (p < .001 on the first step and p < .05 on the second step).

The Sexual Behaviors of African American Women Living With HIV Disease: Is Perceived HIV Status Altering Sexual Behavior?

The purpose of the study was to compare the sexual risk behaviors of heterosexual African American women living with HIV disease to women who perceive themselves to be HIV negative using a comparative descriptive design. Data were collected using a demographics questionnaire developed by the investigator and the Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire (SSBQ). The HIV-positive sample was collected in two public service agencies that provide case management for HIV-positive individuals. The HIV-negative sample was collected in the surrounding community, populated primarily by low-income African Americans. The HIV-positive group demonstrated lower levels of income and education. Scores on the SSBQ indicated no statistical difference between the high-risk sexual behaviors of the HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups. No statistically significant difference was found in the reported past sexual experiences of the two groups, although mean SSBQ scores were higher in the HIV-positive group. The levels of sexual behaviors in both groups were consistent with the high-risk sexual behaviors of HIV-negative persons reported in the literature. This illustrates the need for nursing as a profession to improve programs directed toward altering the behaviors of those at high risk of contracting or transmitting HIV disease.

Factors that mediate and moderate the link between partner abuse and suicidal behavior in African American women.

Factors that mediate and moderate the link between partner abuse and suicidal behavior in African American women.

Factors that mediate and moderate the link between partner abuse and suicidal behavior in African American women.

Findings from a study comparing partner abuse in African American women suicide attempters (n = 148) and nonattempters (n = 137) revealed higher rates of physical and nonphysical partner abuse among attempters than their demographically similar nonsuicidal counterparts. The partner abuse--suicidal behavior link was mediated by psychological distress, hopelessness, and drug use and moderated by social support. Results also revealed that nonphysical partner abuse accounted for unique variance in the prediction of suicide attempt status beyond that attributable to childhood maltreatment. Implications of the findings for assessing both suicidal and abused women are discussed, and recommendations for preventive interventions for women at risk for suicidal behavior are provided.

Oral narrative research with black women

Introduction - Kim Marie Vaz Oral Narrative Research with Black Women PART ONE: Ancestor Mothers Ophelia and Me - Martia Graham Goodson Tribute to an Early Narrative Researcher Professions of Faith - Joycelyn Moody A Teacher Reflects on Women, Race, Church, and Spirit PART TWO: RESEARCH PROCESSES: GIVING VOICE What Do Women Know?...As I was saying! - Christine Obbo You Haven't Seen Anything Until You Make a Black Woman Mad - Arlene Hambrick Oral History - Georgia W Brown Louisiana Black Women's Memoirs PART THREE: RESEARCH PROCESSES: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Talking about Sex and HIV - Renee T White Conceptualizing a New Sociology of Experience Methodological Issues in Triangulation - Jacqueline A Walcott-McQuigg Measuring Weight Control Behavior of African American Women Where Have all the Nice Old Ladies Gone? - Claudia J Gollop Researching the Health Information-Seeking Behavior of Older African American Women African American Women and the Emergence of Self-Will - Elizabeth A Peterson A Report on the Use of Phenomenological Research PART FOUR: RESEARCH PROCESSES: NEGOTIATING INSTITUTIONS Reconstructing the History of Musicians' Protective Union Local 274 through Oral Narrative Method - Diane D Turner Methodological Considerations in Field Research - Patricia Green-Powell Six Case Studies Social Conformity and Social Resistance - Kim Marie Vaz Women's Perspectives on `Women's Place' European American and African American Men and Women's Valuations of Feminist and Natural Science Methods in Psychology - Leslie Ann Kingman

Using focus group methodology to develop breast cancer screening programs that recruit African American women.

Public communication campaigns are designed to increase the number of women who receive mammograms, breast examinations, and cervical exams. However, these campaigns have failed to recruit sufficient numbers of African American women. Focus group techniques were used to provide data to develop a communication campaign that would increase the knowledge, assess the attitudes, and change behaviors of African American women, aged 40-65, about the aforementioned preventive health practices. The discussions revealed that participants distrusted "clinics" and preferred being examined by "their own" or a private physician. Results further revealed that the personal influence of opinion leaders, combined with interpersonal contacts that encourage preventive care, help influence women to participate in mammography and cervical cancer screening.

African american women and behavior therapy: Integrating theory, culture, and clinical practice

The utility of behavior therapy for the treatment of African American women is discussed, with particular attention to integrating cultural knowledge with assessment, conceptualization, and intervention strategies. Specific aspects of behavior theory that are compatible with assessing culturally-related variables are presented. These include a focus within behavior assessment on environmental, social, and cultural factors that influence learning. Cultural issues relevant to an accurate assessment of African American women's behavior are presented to illustrate ways in which a lack of cultural knowledge can lead to misinterpretation of behavior. Finally, guidelines for behavior therapists to consider when working with African American women are presented. It is suggested that integrating cultural factors with behavior therapy will result in greater flexibility for treating African American women as well as a range of diverse clients.

Accessing an understudied population in behavioral HIV/AIDS research: low income African American women.

Most HIV/AIDS behavior research involving African American women has focused on traditional high risk populations, such as those in drug treatment centers, STD clinics, and hospitals. Few studies have examined the health needs and behaviors of African American women in the general population (i.e., working mothers and homemakers). The Parent Health Project examined beliefs and concepts of illness, including AIDS, of low income African American mothers of young children. We used a variety of methods of community outreach and recruitment strategies to gain access and trust from these African American women, including (1) recruitment of women who had children in a related research project, (2) subject reimbursement, and (3) culturally sensitive community based outreach. Of approximately 200 women contacted, 147 (74%) agreed to participate in a two-hour face-to-face interview about concepts of health and illness. Through our efforts, we were able to gain access to a population generally not studies in HIV/AIDS research. We were also exposed to a number of issues, concerns and behaviors faced by women not classified as high risk, yet who are at risk as a result of their own and/or their sexual partner's(s) risk behaviors.

Psychosocial factors influencing weight control behavior of African American women.

The purpose of this descriptive study was to seek directly from college-educated African American women factors which they perceived influenced their individual weight control behavior, and those that influenced African American women collectively. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted, primarily in their homes, with 36 African American women. Thirteen major categories were identified. Six factors that influenced the women's individual weight control behavior were emotions/feelings, beliefs, life events, self-control, discipline, and commitment. Perceived benefits of the behavior and perceived barriers to the behavior were influential in determining the attractiveness, the type, and the extent of the weight control behavior. Five factors related to the African American culture were identified and described by the women. Recognition of psychosocial determinants of weight control behavior may enable health professionals to design unique interventions relevant to African American women.

Health-Promoting Behaviors Of African American Women

Limited information exists concerning health behaviors of African American women. The purposes of this study were to describe health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among a sample of 187 African American women and to compare findings to other published reports on the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) instrument. Subscales with the highest means in this study were interpersonal support and self-actualization. However, when compared to reports of HPLP scores for other groups, total HPLP and subscale scores of women in this study were generally lower. Readability and applicability of the HPLP instrument may affect its validity and reliability in a diverse sample.

Psychosocial correlates of emotional distress and risk behavior in african-american women at risk for hiv infection

Abstract We examined a model of stress and coping in 749 African-American women at risk for HIV infection. Women in the sample were either homeless, intravenous drug users (IVDUs) sexual partners of IVDUs, or prostitutes. A model was hypothesized based on stress and coping theory and research. Antecedents studied were personal resources, specifically self-esteem and available support. Mediators were threat appraisal and coping efforts. Outcomes studied were emotional distress and HIV risk behaviors. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to test hypothesized pathways between these variables. Forty-five percent of the variance in emotional distress in these women was explained by the model with self-esteem and avoidant coping the strongest predictors. Ten percent of the variance in risk behavior was explained by the model with emotional distress the strongest predictor. Direct and indirect pathways predicting risk behavior and distress are discussed. Implications of results for intervention and theory building are considered.