HIV and AIDS Relative to Other Health, Social, and Relationship Concerns among Low-Income Urban Women: A Brief Report

Our objective was to determine the priorities of low-income women regarding health, relationship, and social concerns. Street-intercept surveys were conducted with 161 low-income urban women (mean = 27 years, 85% African American, 80% single mothers) regarding their perceptions of the threat associated with 48 health and social problems. Women rated acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) as their most important health, social, or relationship concern. Nearly one half of all women indicated that they would attend risk reduction programs to learn how to avoid infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is perceived as a serious threat to women's health, and interventions to reduce risk are welcomed.