Bockting W, Robinson B, Miner M, Scheltema K; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. WePeD6382.

Program in Human Sexuality, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States

BACKGROUND: Funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, this study examined the association between several components of the Sexual Health Model and unsafe sex among participants in an intervention study targeting African American women. METHODS: 306 Women completed pre-intervention interviews. Because unsafe sex for the purposes of this study was defined as the frequency of unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse in the past 3 months, only women who reported sex with males during that time period (N=206) were included in the study. We used regression with backward elimination (p<.10) to test hypothesized associations between 16 sexual health variables and unsafe sex. RESULTS: Together, 6 sexual health variables explained 27% of the variance. (p<.001). Trying to get pregnant ([beta]=.82), sexual assertiveness ([beta]=.48), and positive attitudes toward the female condom ([beta]=.34), were positively associated with unsafe sex. Positive attitudes toward condom use ([beta]=.84), safer sex self-efficacy ([beta]=.48), and a lack of control over sex ([beta]=.31), were negatively associated with unsafe sex. The remaining 10 variables, including a history of sexual or physical abuse, were eliminated. CONCLUSION: These findings support our hypothesis that women with more positive attitudes toward condom use and higher safer sex self-efficacy had less unsafe sex. Contrary to our expectations, women who were more sexually assertive, had more control over sex, and had more positive attitudes toward the female condom, reported more unsafe sex. The implication for the Sexual Health Model is that women who are more emancipated sexually are not necessarily less at risk for HIV. Finally, the desire for pregnancy should be taken into account in HIV prevention targeting women at risk.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• African Americans
• Condoms, Female
• Female
• HIV Infections
• Humans
• Interviews as Topic
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Safe Sex
• Self Efficacy
• United States
• Unsafe Sex

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0016096

UI: 102253594

From Meeting Abstracts