Barriers, Facilitators, and Suggestive HIV Interventions for Women: Preliminary Data from a Secondary Analysis

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that women account for almost ten thousand of those newly diagnosed with HIV annually. Within this group, Latina, non-Latina white and non-Latina black women are particularly affected. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to analyze existing de-identified data for barriers and facilitators for HIV testing and willingness to participate in a vaccine if available. The data were 30 de-identified transcripts of one hour interviews obtained from three groups of women (10 Latinas, 10 non-Latina white, and 10 non- Latina black) during the initial phase of a parent study, “HIV Testing and Women’s Attitudes on HIV Vaccine Trials”: G. Zimet, PI. A semi-structured interview guide had been used to guide the interviews. This sub analysis was conducted with removal of ethnic classification to reduce bias during qualitative review. Three predominant categories of fear, time, and cost emerged from all interviews regardless of ethnicity. Less prominent categories of gender, education, trust, motherhood, discrimination, loss of integrity, invincibility, safety, age, testing accuracy, confidentiality, indifference, pride, lifestyle, divine justice, and stress varied among the three groups. These categories will provide the basis for further analysis to determine subthemes and themes, and if there are themes unique to any of the three groups.