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International Journal of HIV and AIDS research
International Conference on
&
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, AIDS and Parasitic Infections
Parasitology, Infectious Diseases, STDs and STIs
September 21-22, 2017 San Antonio, TX, USA
None of us will get out of here alive: The intersections of HIV awareness, risk perceptions
and behavior risk
Lorece V Edwards
Morgan State University, USA
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) significantly impacts minority emerging adults, among whom
the rate of new diagnoses is high and health disparities are more pronounced. Unfortunately, the new
emerging adults of today have limited knowledge of the earlier toll of the HIV when it was identified as a killer
sexually transmitted disease. Among this population, perceptions of risk for HIV are low and sexual risk taking
behaviors are high. HIV risk perception has been shown to be significantly related to prior HIV testing behavior;
however, current knowledge of determinants related to HIV risk perceptions among college students has been
limited. The Get SMART Project is a behavioral HIV intervention aimed to increase the awareness of HIV,
provide re-purposed HIV and substance abuse prevention education as well as HIV testing to African American
emerging adults ages 18-24. The project was guided by the Transtheoretical and socio-ecological models as
well as a creative blend social networking, social media, social marketing, Fine Arts and community-based
theater. 365 emerging adults participated in population-based surveys and eight focus groups were conducted
with approximately 57 participants. Findings revealed that HIV testing is low and behavioral health risks are
escalated. Gaps in knowledge were reveals, especially regarding sex and gender differences in HIV acquisition.
Emerging adults did not see themselves at risk for HIV. Specific risk priorities were identified and survival
expectations influence risk behaviors.
Biography
Lorece V Edwards is currently the Director of the Center for Sexual Health Advancement and Prevention Education (SHAPE) and Associate Professor in the
Department of Behavioral Health Sciences at Morgan State University, School of Community Health and Policy, USA. She has published several papers on HIV
primary prevention and prevention interventions.