Winter 2000                                         Volume 4, Issue 4

After the first 10 study visits that occurred during a five-year period, approximately 82% of all the women enrolled in the national WIHS returned for their follow-up visits.  Factors associated with not returning for follow-up visits among all women were: younger age, non-African American race, unstable housing, being HIV-negative, no past experience in studies of HIV/AIDS, and WIHS site of enrollment.  Among only the HIV-positive women, white race, no past experience in studies of HIV/AIDS, WIHS site of enrollment, and no reported use of combination or HAART HIV therapy at last visit were associated with failing to return for follow-up visits. Among just the HIV-negative study participants, only WIHS site of enrollment was associated with returning for follow-up visits.

These results show that women with and at-risk for HIV infection, especially African American women, can be successfully recruited and retained in long-term research

(Continued on page 2)

All of us at WIHS wish you a very Happy New Year!!

Who is More Likely to Come Back for WIHS Study Visits?

By Nancy Hessol, Project Director

Even though women and people of color represent an increasing proportion of AIDS cases in this country, few research studies include these groups.  We tried to find out which WIHS women are more likely to come back for their 6-month study visit.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Who is More Likely to Come Back for WIHS Study Visits  page 1
  Why is Colposcopy Important?  page 2
  CAB Corner   page 4
Viral Resistance Updates .page 5
WIHS NCAB Meeting  page 5
UNITY Project  page 7

This issue is sponsored, in part, by a donation from Roche Laboratories, Inc.