Social and Environmental Influences on Sexual Behaviors of College Black Women: Within Group Diversity Between HBCU vs. PWI Experiences

• Authors: Rasheeta Chandler-Coley, Emory University; Rasheeta Chandler, Emory University; Dominique Guillaume, Emory University; Naomi Tesema, Emory University; Sudeshna Paul, Emory University; Henry Ross, University of Rochester; Natalie D Hernandez, Morehouse School of Medicine
• Journal Title: JOURNAL OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC HEALTH DISPARITIES
• Volume: Volume 8, Number 4
• Publisher: SPRINGER INT PUBL AG | 2020-08-21, Pages 852-862
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00843-2
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Sexual health; Black women; HIV prevention; Historically black colleges and universities; College students; AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN; CONDOM USE; HIV-INFECTION; RISK BEHAVIORS; HIV/AIDS KNOWLEDGE; MUSIC VIDEOS; LOW-INCOME; STUDENTS; HEALTH; PREVENTION

Abstract

Black women carry a disproportionate number of new HIV infections in the USA. Studies that have assessed HIV risk perception along with HIV prevention interventions for Black women have primarily focused on Black women of low socioeconomic status. Few studies have assessed HIV risk perceptions and sexual behavior among college-educated Black women of higher socioeconomic status despite their high risk of HIV. College-educated Black women are most likely to acquire HIV while in college, and there has been a marked absence of research assessing the environmental and cultural influences present throughout college-campuses, coupled with evaluating how these factors shape sexual behaviors. We conducted surveys with Black female students attending a historically Black college and Black female students attending a predominately White university, and compared baseline differences in sexual behaviors among both populations. Results showed that for participants attending the historically Black college certain sociocultural elements, such as music and media, had a significantly stronger influence on sexuality and sexual behaviors compared with students attending predominately White universities. The development of future HIV prevention interventions for Black women necessitates an understanding of the diverse microcultures that Black women come from. This research is high priority for college-educated Black women given this population’s lack of inclusion in HIV prevention research.