Exploring HIV-testing intentions in young Asian/Pacific Islander (API) women as it relates to acculturation, theory of gender and power (TGP), and the AIDS risk reduction model (ARRM)

Factors associated with intention of HIV testing among Asian American men: a path analysis

Research has pointed to myriad cultural and socio-psychological factors associated with HIV testing, such as acculturation, social norms about HIV testing, masculinity, homonegativity, and constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior. However, the interrelationships of these factors on the intentions of HIV testing among the population of Asian American men remains unknown. A dataset of 425 Asian American men in the U.S., collected online with convenience sampling method during 2020-2021, was analyzed to test a conceptual framework that aimed to fill this gap. Results from a path model with two endogenous variables (homonegativity and HIV testing intention) indicated that perceived social norms about HIV testing, attitude about HIV testing, and perceived HIV risk had directandindirect relationships with the intentions of HIV testing in the study population. However, social norms about HIV testing and perceived HIV risk showed stronger direct effects (standardized estimates = 0.37 and 0.34, respectively, p-value < 0.001). Additionally, we found that the relationships of these factors with HIV testing intention were also mediated by homonegativity. Findings from this study advance our understanding of pathways of associations between a host of cultural and socio-psychological factors with HIV testing intention among an understudied population - Asian American men. Our results will help inform the development of future intervention programs to increase HIV testing in this population.

Advancing Adolescent and Young Adult HIV Prevention and Care and Treatment Through Use of Multi-level Theories and Frameworks: A Scoping Review and Adapted HIV Ecological Framework

While multi-level theories and frameworks have become a cornerstone in broader efforts to address HIV inequities, little is known regarding their application in adolescent and young adult (AYA) HIV research. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review to assess the use and application of multi-level theories and frameworks in AYA HIV prevention and care and treatment empirical research. We systematically searched five databases for articles published between 2010 and May 2020, screened abstracts, and reviewed eligible full-text articles for inclusion. Of the 5890 citations identified, 1706 underwent full-text review and 88 met the inclusion criteria: 70 focused on HIV prevention, with only 14 on care and treatment, 2 on both HIV prevention and care and treatment, and 2 on HIV-affected AYA. Most authors described the theory-based multi-level framework as informing their data analysis, with only 12 describing it as informing/guiding an intervention. More than seventy different multi-level theories were described, with 38% utilizing socio-ecological models or the eco-developmental theory. Findings were used to inform the adaptation of an AYA World Health Organization multi-level framework specifically to guide AYA HIV research.

Asian American Women's Recall of Conversations With Their Mothers About Sexual Health: A Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Data

ABSTRACT

Between 2010 and 2016, Asian Americans (AA) had a 35% increase in HIV diagnosis. Although mother-daughter sexual communication was found to be protective in minority populations, the opposite is true among AAs. The purpose of this study was to explore AA women's experiences of sexual communication with their mothers. Secondary qualitative analysis using analytic expansion with a phenomenological approach was used. Thematic analysis was used to search for common patterns and themes that emerged using qualitative description methodology. Twenty East and Southeast AA cisgender women, ages 18-33 years, were interviewed. The primary finding was an intergenerational gap with two themes: (a) mothers' attitudes about sexual communication and (b) content of sexual communication. Indirect sexual communication included cautionary messages consistent with previous studies. AA mothers' strong cultural beliefs created a barrier to communication. Future research should focus on the young women who want open sexual communication and could influence the next generation.

HIV-related stigma, knowledge about HIV, HIV risk behavior and HIV testing motivation among women in Lampung, Indonesia

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify factors that influence HIV testing motivation among women at the Dr. H. Abdul Moeloek General Hospitalin Lampung, Indonesia.

METHOD

A cross-sectional method was used in this study that employed a consecutive sampling technique involving 120 women with HIV. The participants were outpatients at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Dr. H. Abdul Moeloek General Hospital. This study utilized three instruments: the Berger HIV Stigma Scale, HIV Knowledge Questionnaire (HIV-KQ-18) and Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire (SSBQ).

RESULTS

The study examined factors that influence HIV testing motivation among women: HIV-related stigma, knowledge about HIV and HIV risk behavior. The results of the analysis showed that there is a significant relationship among the HIV-related stigma variable (p=0.019, OR=2.727), knowledge about HIV variable (p=0.011, OR=3.750) and HIV risk behavior variable (p=0.041, OR=2.381). The most dominant factor influencing HIV testing motivation is HIV risk behavior (p=0.016, ά=0.05 at 95% CI and OR=3.217). This indicates that Women Living With HIV (WLWH) who engage in risk HIV behavior demonstrate 3.2 times to HIV testing motivation.

CONCLUSION

HIV-related stigma, knowledge about HIV and HIV risk behavior influence HIV testing motivation for women.

RECOMMENDATION

Our findings have implications for nursing and healthcare practice as well as research, especially in supporting HIV testing for women who are at risk for HIV. Nurses should focus their attention on motivating women with a high risk of HIV to undergo early HIV testing.

Facilitators and barriers to HIV testing among Asians in the United States: a systematic review

Asians have the highest rate of undiagnosed HIV in the United States. Limited research on factors implicated in HIV testing among this population presents a barrier to monitoring and addressing HIV testing disparities. To examine predictors of HIV testing among Asians in the United States, a systematic search of articles published from January 1997 to December 2017 was conducted using four electronic databases, including Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Twenty-two articles were included according to predefined inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed, published in English, took place in the United States, included participants at least 18 years of age, reported data specifically on Asians or Asian subgroups, and assessed HIV testing. Included studies were assessed by methodological quality scoring. Individual-level factors such as HIV knowledge and HIV risk perceptions were commonly reported facilitators of HIV testing. Studies placed less attention on community, institutional, or structural level factors predicting HIV testing. Sorely warranted are high quality, longitudinal studies that examine HIV testing among Asians in the United States. Multi-level theoretical frameworks that examine HIV testing among Asians with attention to ethnic subgroups are needed to improve understanding of HIV testing and to develop targeted testing interventions.

A systematic review of psychological correlates of HIV testing intention

Undiagnosed HIV infection is associated with onward HIV transmission and delays in accessing HIV care and treatment. As a significant proportion of HIV tests are self-initiated, it is important to assess correlates of the intention to test for HIV. Psychological correlates of HIV testing intention are more likely to be the feasible target of interventions than structural determinants. A systematic review of psychological correlates of HIV testing intention was conducted. Twenty studies were included in the review, covering a range of populations and geographical regions. The most commonly assessed variables were HIV risk perception and HIV knowledge rather than HIV test-specific psychological factors. There was evidence that HIV risk perception and pro-testing attitudes were consistently associated with HIV testing intention across a number of studies. There is a need for longitudinal designs, including experimental studies, allowing for more confident casual inferences to be made. Theoretical, research and practice implications are outlined.

Annual Review of Asian American Psychology, 2014

This 2014 review of Asian American psychology is the sixth review in the series. It includes 316 articles that met the inclusion criteria established by the past five annual reviews. Featured articles were derived from three sources: 137 were generated via the search term "Asian American" in PyscINFO, 111 were generated via a search for specific Asian American ethnic groups, and 32 were generated via author searches of articles that met the inclusion criteria. The top primary topic was health and health-related behaviors, the most frequently employed study design was cross-sectional, and the most studied Asian American ethnic group was Chinese. This year's review includes information on the target population of the primary topic, the age range and developmental period of participants, and whether the study design was cross-sectional or longitudinal. It also identifies top authors and journals contributing to the 2014 annual review. These new features reveal that the most common target population of the primary topic was youths; studies most commonly included emerging adults ages 18-25; cross-sectional study design was employed more often than longitudinal design; the top contributor to the 2014 review was Stephen Chen, who authored the highest number of papers included; and the Asian American Journal of Psychology generated the highest number of publications for this review.