HIV Knowledge, Risk Behaviors, and Testing Among Chinese-, Korean-, and Vietnamese-American Women

The relationship between HIV knowledge and testing behavior is poorly understood among young Chinese-, Korean-, and Vietnamese-American women. This study assesses: (1) levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, (2) lifetime and annual prevalence of HIV testing, and (3) whether higher levels of HIV knowledge were associated with increased likelihood of testing after controlling for HIV risk behaviors. Fifty-one percent reported lifetime HIV testing (n=117); among those tested, 53% were tested within the past year. A significant and positive association between scores on the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire (HIV KQ-45) and HIV testing was identified. This association was no longer statistically significant after controlling for sexual risk behaviors. Participants were most knowledgeable about HIV symptoms (88.6%) and least knowledgeable about treatment options (56.8%). Future studies should further characterize cultural factors affecting these women's sexual practices, as well develop culturally adapted HIV educational interventions to increase HIV knowledge and testing rates.