Abstract

abstract:

Rates of HIV infection remain disproportionate for Black women in the US Self-efficacy has been identified as a promising variable with the potential to mitigate various health-risk behaviors in numerous populations. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to assess the role self-efficacy, specifically sexual self-efficacy (SSE), might play in minimizing HIV-related sexual risk behavior in Black American women. For this study, HIV-related sexual risk behavior was defined as frequency of condom use and number of partners. Components of the Sexual Self-Efficacy (SSE) scale were used to assess this variable. Data were collected and analyzed from ninety-eight participants in the Baltimore-Metropolitan area of Maryland. Results revealed women with greater sexual self-efficacy, as well as those with higher incomes, higher levels of education, and older age, were more likely to report fewer sexual risk behaviors. These findings support similar studies that suggest self-efficacy plays an important role in reducing risk behavior, as well as highlights the need for future research to examine the complex interplay of race and gender on HIV-risk reduction for Black women.

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