TY - JOUR
T1 - Education attainment but not literacy is associated with HIV risk behavior among incarcerated women
AU - Paasche-Orlow, Michael K.
AU - Clarke, Jennifer G.
AU - Hebert, Megan R.
AU - Ray, Moira K.
AU - Stein, Michael D.
PY - 2005/11
Y1 - 2005/11
N2 - Purpose: To identify the educational factors associated with HIV risk behaviors among incarcerated women. Methods: We evaluated a cohort of female detainees at The Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute between July and September 2004. Among the 423 women who participated in the study, 55% did not have a high school diploma, 29% had ≤8th grade reading capacity, 32% had a learning disability, 37% had problem drinking, and 61% (257/423) reported HIV risk behavior. Results: In multiple logistic regression, participants who had completed high school had the lowest likelihood of HIV risk behavior (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12-1.00). There was no association between participants' literacy level and HIV risk behavior (adjusted OR 2.02, 95% CI 0.83-4.92). Conclusions: Correctional education programs to reduce HIV risk behavior should focus on those with low educational attainment irrespective of literacy skills.
AB - Purpose: To identify the educational factors associated with HIV risk behaviors among incarcerated women. Methods: We evaluated a cohort of female detainees at The Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute between July and September 2004. Among the 423 women who participated in the study, 55% did not have a high school diploma, 29% had ≤8th grade reading capacity, 32% had a learning disability, 37% had problem drinking, and 61% (257/423) reported HIV risk behavior. Results: In multiple logistic regression, participants who had completed high school had the lowest likelihood of HIV risk behavior (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12-1.00). There was no association between participants' literacy level and HIV risk behavior (adjusted OR 2.02, 95% CI 0.83-4.92). Conclusions: Correctional education programs to reduce HIV risk behavior should focus on those with low educational attainment irrespective of literacy skills.
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U2 - 10.1089/jwh.2005.14.852
DO - 10.1089/jwh.2005.14.852
M3 - Article
C2 - 16313213
AN - SCOPUS:29644435326
SN - 1540-9996
VL - 14
SP - 852
EP - 859
JO - Journal of Women's Health
JF - Journal of Women's Health
IS - 9
ER -