Black Women's Approaches to Encourage a Male Partner to Test for HIV: Preliminary Adaptation and a Factor Analysis Study of the HIV Testing Approach Scale.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV. Increasing status awareness through partner testing can improve status awareness and reduce transmission. Varying approaches to encourage HIV testing are described but a measurement instrument is lacking. The AIDS Discussion Strategy Scale (ADSS) was adapted into the HIV Testing Approach Scale (HTAS) to measure Black women's approaches to encourage partners to test for HIV. METHODS: Preliminary adaptation included five steps to ensure validity. Participants comprised 158 sexually active 18-29-year-old Black women. The HTAS was analyzed with principal components analysis (PCA). RESULTS: PCA indicated a four-factor model explaining 67% of variance. Four distinct approaches were Active Persuasion, Decisive Collaboration, Ultimatum, and Sweet Talking. The HTAS approaches demonstrated adequate reliability. CONCLUSION: The HTAS may serve as a valid and reliable instrument for research. HIV prevention should encourage testing discussion to increase status awareness.