Developing and Examining Evidenced-Based HIV Testing Messages

African American women have the highest risk and prevalence of HIV infection among women of
all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Many of the current HIV infections among young
adult African American women remain undiagnosed. The established benefits of routine HIV
testing, the limitations of safer sex programs, and the gap of research related to increasing
HIV testing as prevention necessitates the need for future research that specifically targets
mechanisms to increase HIV testing. Higher rates of HIV testing can decrease rates of HIV
transmission, as individuals who are knowledgeable of their status are less likely to
transmit the virus. The current literature is sparse on factors related to HIV testing among
young adults and has largely only examined demographic and sexual behavior correlates of HIV
testing. Additionally, no studies have developed evidence-based health messages to promote
HIV testing specifically among African American young women, despite their high risk of HIV
infection and the importance of HIV testing. Thus, the proposed study will intend to identify
factors related to HIV testing beyond the demographic and sexual risk level through formative
research. These identified factors will be included as important elements in the development
of HIV testing messages to motivate increased HIV testing. An enhanced message (culturally
tailored) and a knowledge only message will be developed and tested.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Self-identified Black or African American women

Exclusion Criteria:

- Women who have never had sex, are married, or are pregnant/attempting to become
pregnant