The Measurement of HIV Risk Level in African American Women Who Dwell in the Southeastern United States

African American women are the group most heavily afflicted with heterosexually transmitted HIV. The southeastern United States suffers a disproportionate degree of this burden. The purpose of this study was to present the psychometric testing of the HIV Risk Behavior Questionnaire, which was designed and tested for use in this population. The instrument, initially comprised of 32 items, was screened for face validity by experts in the field. This resulted in a revised 28-item instrument. Internal consistency was tested in 74 subjects and yielded Cronbach's α of 0.74. High interitem correlations coupled with similarity between the items resulted in the elimination of three additional items. The final 25-item instrument was then administered to 304 subjects, with Cronbach's α of 0.82. Factor analysis yielded a four-factor solution: barrier/fluid avoidance modalities, survival sex, sexual communications, and factors that increase sexual risk. This indicated the complex multidimensional variables that affect sexual risk. Construct validity was then established through correlation with existing instruments of assertiveness and personal control, using an additional sample of 131 subjects.