HIV Knowledge, Attitudes, and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Women from Trinidad

Authors

Rosemarie GraczkowskiFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Nursing

First Advisor's Name

Sandra Gracia Jones

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Eric Fenkl

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Amy Paul-Ward

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Audrey Miller

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, Trinidad, Women, Knowledge, Condom Use, Caribbean

Date of Defense

3-28-2018

Abstract

Currently, the Caribbean has the second highest new cases of HIV infection, only after Sub-Saharan Africa. Women are becoming disproportionally more at risk for HIV/AIDS, mainly through heterosexual contact. The purpose of this dissertation study was to evaluate HIV knowledge, attitudes, and sexual risk behaviors among Trinidadian women. A sample of 113 participants was recruited for this study. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Purnell Model of Cultural Competence were used to guide this study. Data were gathered using the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire (HIV-KQ-18), Condom Attitude Scale (CAS), Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire (SSBQ), and a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis software package (SPSS) version 22. Descriptive and Frequencies, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r), one-way between groups ANOVA, and Multiple Regression analyses were implemented to assess HIV knowledge, attitudes about condom use, religious beliefs, level of education, and substance use among Trinidadian women. The results of this study indicated that level of education and race/ethnic backgrounds were associated with HIV knowledge among Trinidadian women. Religious beliefs had a negative correlation with attitudes about condom use. Also, there was a positive correlation between attitudes about condom use and safer sexual behaviors. The empirical knowledge obtained from this study can be used to provide a baseline for healthcare providers and policy makers to develop culturally aware, gender-relevant interventions to decrease the rate of HIV infection among Trinidadian women.

Identifier

FIDC006578

Recommended Citation

Graczkowski, Rosemarie, "HIV Knowledge, Attitudes, and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Women from Trinidad" (2018). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3689.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3689