HIV Testing Barriers Among Black and Latina Women

An Examination of Medical Mistrust, Daily Discrimination, and Current Substance Use

Bibliographic Data

ID21645345
AuthorsSarah Tonkin (0000-0001-5638-4363, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, corresponding author), Constanza De Dios (0000-0003-0230-5222, Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), Angela M Heads (0000-0002-3971-222X, Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)
Year2025
Volume60
Issue8
Pages1126-1132
Publication date2025-07-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2025.2487975
PMID40208854
OpenAlexW4409327528
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited34

Background: Black and Latina women are disproportionally affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and medical mistrust may be a testing barrier, especially among women experiencing substance use and discrimination. Objectives: This study examined current substance use, daily discrimination exposure, and medical mistrust factors (medical disparities, medical suspiciousness) on HIV testing. An online survey was completed by 97 Black and/or Latina women. Bayesian generalized linear modeling tested two hypotheses: 1) Current substance use, higher discrimination exposure, and higher medical mistrust would reduce the odds of HIV testing (ever being tested and recent testing within the past year), 2) Substance use and discrimination would moderate associations between medical mistrust and testing. Results: For Hypothesis 1, current substance use (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.42), higher discrimination exposure (OR=1.26), lower medical disparities (OR=0.83), and lower medical suspiciousness (OR=0.70) were associated with higher odds of ever being HIV tested. For Hypothesis 2, current substance use moderated the association between medical disparities with ever being HIV testing, while discrimination exposure moderated the association between medical suspiciousness with ever being tested (ORs 1.11). Conclusions: HIV testing barriers were generally associated with higher odds of testing, suggesting complex relationships may occur within medical settings for high-risk women experiencing discrimination

Black women · Family medicine · Psychiatry · Sociology · Substance use · Women of color · Clinical Psychology · Gender Studies · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Gerontology

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