HIV Risk Behaviors among a Sample of Young Black College Women

Statistics show that African American women account for 64% of all HIV/AIDS cases reported in 2005 compared with White women (19%) and Hispanic women (15%) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2005). Typically, HIV/AIDS research focuses on prevention for high-risk minority women and men who have sex with men (MSM), while young Black college women are ignored as a risk group. This study examined factors that influence HIV risk behaviors among a sample of 189 young Black women aged 18–24 from a Historically Black University. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires that asked about their condom use with either a boyfriend or casual sex partner in the preceding 12 months, as well as their substance use and condom use self-efficacy. Results indicated that the type of sexual relationship in which the participants' were involved and their self-efficacy are positively associated with their condom use. Substance use was negatively associated with condom use.