HIV-Risk Related Attitudes and Behaviors Among Older Impoverished Women Living in Puerto Rico

HIV has increasingly impacted older adults regarding sero-prevalence and sero-incidence as long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS are living longer. This study examines the relationship between age and HIV-related attitudes and risk behaviors among female public housing residents in Puerto Rico. Using a self-administered survey instrument, 1,138 female public housing residents were surveyed between April and August 2006. Bivariate results showed that older women (aged 50+ years) were significantly less likely to report HIV testing and to discuss safer sex with their most recent "steady" sex partner than women under the age of 50 years. Older women were also more likely to express anxiety associated with condoms and more barriers to using condoms. The older versus younger groups did not significantly differ regarding condom use, which was extremely low across the groups. In the past three and 12 months, older women were less likely than younger women to report having (a) multiple sex partners and; (b) oral and anal sex with their most recent steady sex partner; (c) oral sex with their most recent non-steady sex partner and, (d) engaging in sexual activity in the previous three and 12 months. Age-specific messages concerning their increased risk of HIV among other interventions would likely curtail the increase in the number of new HIV cases being reported among members of this sub-population.