HIV Testing Among Muslim Women in the United States: Results of a National Sample Study

Purpose: More than one million Americans are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and less than half of Americans have ever accepted an HIV test. There are no national HIV testing estimates for Muslim Americans, an underserved and often stigmatized population. Considering the lack of HIV...

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Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2021-01-01
Series:Health Equity
Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/HEQ.2020.0041
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spelling doaj-d2a46bf0e0d3459daadf77bb837a72d32021-01-20T04:01:53ZengMary Ann LiebertHealth Equity 2473-12422021-01-0110.1089/HEQ.2020.0041HIV Testing Among Muslim Women in the United States: Results of a National Sample StudyPurpose: More than one million Americans are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and less than half of Americans have ever accepted an HIV test. There are no national HIV testing estimates for Muslim Americans, an underserved and often stigmatized population. Considering the lack of HIV testing estimates for this population, we conducted an exploratory study on HIV testing and potential associates in American Muslim women from across the United States. Methods: We applied logistic regression models to examine the Muslim Women's Health Project data, collected in 2015 (N=218). Results: Health care engagement and intimate partner violence were significantly associated with having been tested for HIV. Respondents using contraceptives received an influenza vaccination, and received an abnormal pap test had more than two times higher odds of having been tested for HIV (odds ratio [OR]=2.56, OR=2.43, OR=2.93, respectively; p<0.05 all). Having been sexually abused was associated with more than two times higher odds of having been tested for HIV (OR=2.49; p<0.05). Conclusion: Respondents reported higher rates of HIV testing as compared with the general public, signaling HIV knowledge, engagement in preventative health care, and possibly HIV risk. Scholars and practitioners should not assume that Muslim patients are at low risk for HIV and do not engage in HIV-risk behaviors. Thus, assumptions about Muslims women's willingness to accept HIV testing should be further examined to elucidate HIV risk among this population.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/HEQ.2020.0041
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
title HIV Testing Among Muslim Women in the United States: Results of a National Sample Study
spellingShingle HIV Testing Among Muslim Women in the United States: Results of a National Sample Study
Health Equity
title_short HIV Testing Among Muslim Women in the United States: Results of a National Sample Study
title_full HIV Testing Among Muslim Women in the United States: Results of a National Sample Study
title_fullStr HIV Testing Among Muslim Women in the United States: Results of a National Sample Study
title_full_unstemmed HIV Testing Among Muslim Women in the United States: Results of a National Sample Study
title_sort hiv testing among muslim women in the united states: results of a national sample study
publisher Mary Ann Liebert
series Health Equity
issn 2473-1242
publishDate 2021-01-01
description Purpose: More than one million Americans are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and less than half of Americans have ever accepted an HIV test. There are no national HIV testing estimates for Muslim Americans, an underserved and often stigmatized population. Considering the lack of HIV testing estimates for this population, we conducted an exploratory study on HIV testing and potential associates in American Muslim women from across the United States. Methods: We applied logistic regression models to examine the Muslim Women's Health Project data, collected in 2015 (N=218). Results: Health care engagement and intimate partner violence were significantly associated with having been tested for HIV. Respondents using contraceptives received an influenza vaccination, and received an abnormal pap test had more than two times higher odds of having been tested for HIV (odds ratio [OR]=2.56, OR=2.43, OR=2.93, respectively; p<0.05 all). Having been sexually abused was associated with more than two times higher odds of having been tested for HIV (OR=2.49; p<0.05). Conclusion: Respondents reported higher rates of HIV testing as compared with the general public, signaling HIV knowledge, engagement in preventative health care, and possibly HIV risk. Scholars and practitioners should not assume that Muslim patients are at low risk for HIV and do not engage in HIV-risk behaviors. Thus, assumptions about Muslims women's willingness to accept HIV testing should be further examined to elucidate HIV risk among this population.
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/HEQ.2020.0041
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