DEVELOPING AN EVIDENCE-BASED HIV TESTING MESSAGE FOR YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN

Abstract

DEVELOPING AN EVIDENCE-BASED HIV TESTING MESSAGE FOR YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN By Melanie Paige Moore, M.S. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019 Major Director: Faye Z. Belgrave Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology African American women have the highest rates of HIV infection among women of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States, and over 50% of HIV infected young adults are unaware of their infection. HIV testing is a cost-effective mechanism for reducing HIV transmission. Despite this, limited research has been devoted to developing interventions specifically promoting HIV testing. This two-part study proposed to address this gap through developing a culturally tailored HIV testing message aimed at increasing HIV test intentions among young African American women. The Health Belief Model was this study’s primary theoretical framework. Study 1 was a quantitative study that examined predictors of HIV testing history and future HIV test intentions among 109 African American women aged 18-24. Participants were recruited at two universities, online, and via word of mouth. Measures on sexual behavior, HIV knowledge, HIV conspiracy beliefs, gender role beliefs, gender ratio imbalance beliefs were included in the survey. Next, a culturally tailored HIV testing message