1. HIV testing in an ethnically diverse sample of American university students: associations with violence/abuse and covariates.
- Author
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DiStefano AS, Gill JK, Hubach RD, Cayetano RT, and Hilbert CJ
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, California epidemiology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Sex Offenses psychology, Sexual Behavior statistics & numerical data, Students psychology, Students statistics & numerical data, Universities statistics & numerical data, Violence psychology, Young Adult, AIDS Serodiagnosis statistics & numerical data, Sex Offenses statistics & numerical data, Violence statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Associations linking HIV infection to violence and abuse are well documented; however, little is known about how violence/abuse is related to HIV testing behavior, particularly among undergraduate university students, who test at lower rates compared to non-student peers in the United States. We assessed history of HIV testing in an ethnically diverse sample of undergraduates in California (n = 1,210); and examined potential associations between testing and various forms of violence/abuse, while controlling for covariates. Whereas 73.4% of students were sexually active in the past year, only 26.3% had ever tested for HIV. At the bivariate level, testing was associated with experiencing verbal abuse and sexual violence/coercion, and perpetrating verbal abuse. Experiencing verbal abuse remained significant in multivariate analysis. We discuss findings in a syndemics framework, considered in combination with social psychology-based health behavior theories. Enhanced HIV testing scale-up initiatives for undergraduates are needed and should consider integration with violence prevention programs.
- Published
- 2014
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