HIV risk and testing behaviors among pregnant women tested for HIV in Florida by site type, 2012.

The numbers of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in the United States have continued to decline, but the prevalence of female adults and adolescents living with diagnosed HIV infection continues to rise. Opportunities still exist to prevent mother-to child HIV transmission. The objective of this study was to identify demographics, HIV risk, and testing behaviors among pregnant women and to compare these characteristics by HIV testing site type. Multivariable analyses were conducted to examine demographics, HIV risk, and testing behaviors among 24,836 records of pregnant women publicly tested for HIV in the state of Florida in 2012. The testing records indicated that Latina and non-Hispanic black (NHB) women had decreased odds of reporting partner risk compared to those from non-Hispanic white women (Latina: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.20, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 0.14-0.28; and NHB AOR 0.14, 95 percent CI: 0.10-0.21), and women tested in prisons/jails had higher odds of reporting previous HIV testing compared to those tested in prenatal care sites (AOR 1.86, 95 percent CI: 1.03-3.39). An understanding of HIV risk and testing behaviors among pregnant women by site type may enhance current targeted testing and prevention strategies for pregnant women and facilitate timely linkage to care.

Using High-Impact HIV Prevention to Achieve the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Goals in Miami-Dade County, Florida: A Case Study.

: In response to the release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the "Enhanced Comprehensive HIV Prevention Planning" project, which provided support to health departments in 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas with the highest AIDS prevalence to strengthen local HIV programs. We describe a case study of how 1 Metropolitan Statistical Area, Miami-Dade County, developed and implemented a locally tailored plan. Examples include actions to reinforce local partnerships and identify neighborhoods with highest unmet needs, an improved condom distribution system to assist local HIV care providers, collaboration with local stakeholders to establish a new walk-in center for transgender client needs, and overcoming incompatibilities in health department and Ryan White Program computer record systems to facilitate faster and more efficient patient services. These examples show how jurisdictions both within Florida and elsewhere can create low-cost and sustainable activities tailored to improve local HIV prevention needs.

Efficacy of a health educator-delivered HIV prevention intervention for Latina women: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: We developed and assessed AMIGAS (Amigas, Mujeres Latinas, Inform andonos, Gui andonos, y Apoy andonos contra el SIDA [friends, Latina women, informing each other, guiding each other, and supporting each other against AIDS]), a culturally congruent HIV prevention intervention for Latina women adapted from SiSTA (Sistas Informing Sistas about Topics on AIDS), an intervention for African American women. METHODS: We recruited 252 Latina women aged 18 to 35 years in Miami, Florida, in 2008 to 2009 and randomized them to the 4-session AMIGAS intervention or a 1-session health intervention. Participants completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Over the 6-month follow-up, AMIGAS participants reported more consistent condom use during the past 90 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.81; P < .001) and 30 (AOR = 3.14; P < .001) days and at last sexual encounter (AOR = 2.76; P < .001), and a higher mean percentage condom use during the past 90 (relative change = 55.7%; P < .001) and 30 (relative change = 43.8%; P < .001) days than did comparison participants. AMIGAS participants reported fewer traditional views of gender roles (P = .008), greater self-efficacy for negotiating safer sex (P < .001), greater feelings of power in relationships (P = .02), greater self-efficacy for using condoms (P < .001), and greater HIV knowledge (P = .009) and perceived fewer barriers to using condoms (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the efficacy of this linguistically and culturally adapted HIV intervention among ethnically diverse, predominantly foreign-born Latina women.

HIV Testing Behaviors Among Latina Women Tested for HIV in Florida, 2012.

INTRODUCTION: Latina women in the United States (US) are not only disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection but also underuse HIV prevention services, such as HIV testing. METHOD: HIV testing events were examined to describe the HIV testing behaviors and test results among Latinas tested in 2012 at publicly funded sites in Florida, United States. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the demographic characteristics associated with reports of previous testing and positive HIV test results. RESULTS: Of the 184,037 testing events, 87,569 (45.6%) were among non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs), 47,926 (26.0%) non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), 41,117 (22.3%) Latinas, 5,672 (3.1%) those with unknown race/ethnicity, and 1,753 (1.0%) other racial/ethnic groups. Compared to NHW and NHB women, Latinas testing for HIV were older (mean age = 32.1, NHW = mean age 30.3, NHB = mean age 30.0; p < .0001). Results indicated that women who reported previous HIV testing had decreased odds of being Latina (adjusted odds ratio = 0.90; 95% confidence interval [0.87, 0.94]). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Latinas are underusing HIV testing, and efforts are needed to increase the proportion of Latinas, especially younger Latinas, tested for HIV in Florida.

HIV Risk Behaviors Among Latina Women Tested for HIV in Florida by Country of Birth, 2012.

Latina women in the United States (US) are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Data are limited on the risk differences in HIV among Latinas by country of birth. This paper describes the risk behaviors among Latina women tested for HIV at public sites in Florida. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the demographic characteristics associated with the report of specific risk behaviors. Results indicate that foreign-born Latina women were 54 % less likely to report partner risk [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.40, 0.54] than US-born Latina women. Reported risk behaviors varied by race/ethnicity, US-born versus foreign-born status, and by Latina country of origin. Knowledge of these differences can aid in targeting HIV prevention messaging, program decision-making, and allocation of resources, corresponding to the central approach of High Impact Prevention and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.