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Identifying Diverse HIV Risk Groups Among American Indian Young Adults: The Utility of Cluster Analysis

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Abstract

We demonstrate the utility of cluster analysis for identifying diverse HIV risk groups found in a community-based sample. Within a group of 706 American Indian young adults, we used cluster analysis to identify four profiles of HIV risk/protection. The High Efficacy/Low Risk cluster had high levels of knowledge/education, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations about HIV protection, with low levels of risk behaviors. Low Efficacy/Low Risk had low levels of HIV knowledge/education, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations, but high levels of perceived risk for HIV with low levels of HIV risk behaviors. Low Efficacy/Moderate Risk was similar to the previous group, but its members had moderately higher levels of several risk behaviors and higher condom use. Low Efficacy/High Risk had high rates of several high-risk behaviors such as exchanging sex for money or injection drug use. Validation analyses highlighted differences that can be useful for the development of preventive interventions.

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  1. American Indian and Alaska Native Programs, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, Colorado

    Christina M. Mitchell, Carol E. Kaufman & Janette Beals

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  1. Christina M. Mitchell
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Mitchell, C.M., Kaufman, C.E. & Beals, J. Identifying Diverse HIV Risk Groups Among American Indian Young Adults: The Utility of Cluster Analysis. AIDS Behav 8, 263–275 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AIBE.0000044074.46636.c2

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