Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jul;51(5):2473-2483.
doi: 10.1007/s10508-022-02306-7. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Associations of Social Network- and Individual-Level Factors with HIV Testing, Condom Use, and Interest in PrEP Among Young Black Women

Jaih B Craddock  1 , Nancy D Franke  2 , Caroline Kingori  3
Affiliations

Associations of Social Network- and Individual-Level Factors with HIV Testing, Condom Use, and Interest in PrEP Among Young Black Women

Jaih B Craddock et al. Arch Sex Behav. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

To achieve the 2030 goal of ending the HIV epidemic, we must consider social network- along with individual-level factors related to HIV prevention among young Black women (YBW). This cross-sectional study examined egocentric social network- and individual-level data of 180 YBW aged 18-24. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to study social network characteristics and individual sexual behaviors related to HIV prevention behaviors (e.g., HIV testing, condom use, and interest in preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP). On average, YBW nominated 11 social network members (SNMs; seven friends, two family members, and one sex partner). About 92% of YBW spoke to at least one SNM about condom use and 58% spoke to at least one SNM about HIV testing. Respondents who spoke to a sex partner about condom use had 70% lower odds of being interested in PrEP, but 2.99 times the odds of reporting condom use during last sex. Odds of being tested for HIV in the prior 3 months were significantly increased by 3.97 times for those who spoke to at least one sex partner about HIV testing. However, odds of being interested in PrEP were significantly decreased by 63% for YBW who were tested for HIV in the prior 3 months. Findings underscore that understanding network- and individual-level factors is crucial in increasing HIV testing, condom use, and interest in PrEP among YBW.

Keywords: HIV prevention; PrEP; Social network; Young Black women.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or nonfinancial interests to disclose.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Amirkhanian YA. Social networks, sexual networks and HIV risk in men who have sex with men. Current HIV/AIDS Reports. 2014;11:81–92. doi: 10.1007/s11904-013-0194-4. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Anakaraonye AR, Mann ES, Annang Ingram L, Henderson AK. Black US college women’s strategies of sexual self-protection. Culture, Health & Sexuality. 2019;21:160–174. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2018.1459844. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Barman-Adhikari A, Craddock J, Bowen E, Das R, Rice E. The relative influence of injunctive and descriptive social norms on methamphetamine, heroin, and injection drug use among homeless youths: The impact of different referent groups. Journal of Drug Issues. 2018;48:17–35. doi: 10.1177/0022042617726080. - DOI
    1. Boekeloo B, Geiger T, Wang M, Ishman N, Quinton S, Allen G, Ali B, Snow D. Evaluation of a socio-cultural intervention to reduce unprotected sex for HIV among African American/Black women. AIDS and Behavior. 2015;19:1752–1762. doi: 10.1007/s10461-015-1004-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Boyd D, Lea CH, Gilbert KL, Butler-Barnes ST. Sexual health conversations: Predicting the odds of HIV testing among Black youth and young adults. Children and Youth Services Review. 2018;90:134–140. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.05.025. - DOI

Publication types

Substances