Abstract
African Americans are disproportionately burdened by STDs and HIV in the US. This study examined the relationships between demographics, religiosity, and sexual risk behaviors among 255 adult African American church-based participants. Although participants were highly religious, they reported an average of seven lifetime sex partners and most inconsistently used condoms. Several demographic variables and religiosity significantly predicted lifetime HIV-related risk factors. Taken together, findings indicated that this population is at risk for HIV. Future research should continue to identify correlates of risky sexual behavior among African American parishioners to facilitate the development of HIV risk reduction interventions in their church settings.
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Acknowledgments
This research was made possible by the faith-based leaders and participants in Taking It to the Pews (TIPS) churches. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of leaders from the following churches, AIDS service organizations, and local health department: Calvary Temple Baptist Church (Rev. Eric Williams); Gethsemane New Testament Baptist Church (Rev. Jehrome Randolph); Greater Mt. Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church (Rev. Carl Frazier); Heaven Sent Outreach Ministries (Rev. Calvin Wainright); Kansas City Community Church (Rev. Dr. Richard Prim); King Solomon Baptist Church (Rev. Victor Mitchell); Life Tabernacle Church (Rev. Clarence Johnson); Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church (Revs. Wallace Hartsfield, Sr. and Wallace Hartsfield, Jr.); Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church (Rev. Golden Davis); Walnut Boulevard Baptist Church (Rev. Royal Scott); Swope Parkway United Methodist Church (Rev. David Gilmore); Third Street Church of God (Rev. Timothy Jones); Truman Medical Center Infectious Disease Clinic (Rose Farnan); Kansas City Free Health Clinic (LaTrischa Miles and Hazel Wesson); Good Samaritan Project (Garnetta Brooks, Elnora Powell, Donnie Thompson, and Eyvette Tyler); and Kansas City Health Department (Frank Thompson). The authors also acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Rev. Cassandra Wainright from Calvary Community Outreach Network. The authors would also like to acknowledge all of the graduate students who contributed time, energy, and hard work in completing this research project.
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Hawes, S.M., Berkley-Patton, J.Y. Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behaviors among an African American Church-based Population. J Relig Health 53, 469–482 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9651-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9651-4