A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican Republic
Abstract Background The Dominican Republic (DR) ranks among nations with the highest burden of HIV in the Caribbean. Cultural and gender roles in rural areas of the DR may place women at increased HIV risk. However, little is known about sexual health and HIV testing behaviors among women in the rur...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-0891-2 |
| _version_ | 1818575865194217472 |
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| author | Madeline C. Montgomery Zachary Alholm Alexi Almonte Kevin J. Sykes Gregory Rudolph Brandon Cusick Laura Castello Genoviva Sowemimo-Coker Irene Tang Sarah Haberlack Philip A. Chan |
| author_facet | Madeline C. Montgomery Zachary Alholm Alexi Almonte Kevin J. Sykes Gregory Rudolph Brandon Cusick Laura Castello Genoviva Sowemimo-Coker Irene Tang Sarah Haberlack Philip A. Chan |
| author_sort | Madeline C. Montgomery |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Dominican Republic (DR) ranks among nations with the highest burden of HIV in the Caribbean. Cultural and gender roles in rural areas of the DR may place women at increased HIV risk. However, little is known about sexual health and HIV testing behaviors among women in the rural DR. Methods We conducted a needs assessment among a systematic sample of adult women in a rural DR community in 2016. Demographic and behavioral attributes related to HIV testing, sexual health, and healthcare utilization were evaluated. Poisson regression analysis was used to identify demographics and behaviors associated with having had a previous HIV test. Significance was defined as a p-value < 0.05. Results Among 105 women evaluated, 77% knew someone with HIV and 73% of women reported that they would be very or extremely likely to take an HIV test if offered. Only 68% reported a previous HIV test, including 47% who were tested over 2 years prior. Barriers to HIV testing included low risk perception (23%), distance or requisite travel (13%), and discomfort being tested (11%). Women who had never been tested for HIV were more likely than those who had been tested to be older (p = 0.03), to have a lower level of education (p = 0.04), and to have never been tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STI; p < 0.01). In the Poisson multiple regression model, the only significant predictor of having had an HIV test was having had an STI test (p = 0.03). Conclusions In the rural DR, numerous barriers contribute to low prevalence of HIV testing among women. Most women report willingness to have an HIV test and many engage in routine health care, indicating that this population may benefit from incorporating HIV testing and other sexual health promotion activities into routine medical care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:46:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45cede0252934098aae01c015a9b592b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:46:57Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-45cede0252934098aae01c015a9b592b2022-12-21T22:41:31ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742020-02-0120111010.1186/s12905-020-0891-2A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican RepublicMadeline C. Montgomery0Zachary Alholm1Alexi Almonte2Kevin J. Sykes3Gregory Rudolph4Brandon Cusick5Laura Castello6Genoviva Sowemimo-Coker7Irene Tang8Sarah Haberlack9Philip A. Chan10Department of Medicine, Brown UniversityUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterDepartment of Medicine, Brown UniversityUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterWorld Outreach FoundationWorld Outreach FoundationWorld Outreach FoundationDepartment of Medicine, Brown UniversityDepartment of Medicine, Brown UniversityDepartment of Medicine, Brown UniversityDepartment of Medicine, Brown UniversityAbstract Background The Dominican Republic (DR) ranks among nations with the highest burden of HIV in the Caribbean. Cultural and gender roles in rural areas of the DR may place women at increased HIV risk. However, little is known about sexual health and HIV testing behaviors among women in the rural DR. Methods We conducted a needs assessment among a systematic sample of adult women in a rural DR community in 2016. Demographic and behavioral attributes related to HIV testing, sexual health, and healthcare utilization were evaluated. Poisson regression analysis was used to identify demographics and behaviors associated with having had a previous HIV test. Significance was defined as a p-value < 0.05. Results Among 105 women evaluated, 77% knew someone with HIV and 73% of women reported that they would be very or extremely likely to take an HIV test if offered. Only 68% reported a previous HIV test, including 47% who were tested over 2 years prior. Barriers to HIV testing included low risk perception (23%), distance or requisite travel (13%), and discomfort being tested (11%). Women who had never been tested for HIV were more likely than those who had been tested to be older (p = 0.03), to have a lower level of education (p = 0.04), and to have never been tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STI; p < 0.01). In the Poisson multiple regression model, the only significant predictor of having had an HIV test was having had an STI test (p = 0.03). Conclusions In the rural DR, numerous barriers contribute to low prevalence of HIV testing among women. Most women report willingness to have an HIV test and many engage in routine health care, indicating that this population may benefit from incorporating HIV testing and other sexual health promotion activities into routine medical care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-0891-2HIVSTIsDominican RepublicHIV testingWomen |
| spellingShingle | Madeline C. Montgomery Zachary Alholm Alexi Almonte Kevin J. Sykes Gregory Rudolph Brandon Cusick Laura Castello Genoviva Sowemimo-Coker Irene Tang Sarah Haberlack Philip A. Chan A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican Republic BMC Women's Health HIV STIs Dominican Republic HIV testing Women |
| title | A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican Republic |
| title_full | A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican Republic |
| title_fullStr | A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican Republic |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican Republic |
| title_short | A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican Republic |
| title_sort | cross sectional evaluation of hiv testing practices among women in the rural dominican republic |
| topic | HIV STIs Dominican Republic HIV testing Women |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-0891-2 |
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