8th International AIDS Conference Amsterdam, Netherlands — July 19-24, 1992

Int Conf AIDS 1992 Jul 19-24; 8:We59 (abstract no. WeD 1075)
Tross S, Abdul-Quader AS, Silvert HM, Simons P, Des Jarlais DC, Friedman S; Narcotics and Drug Research Inc., NY.

OBJECTIVE: FSPs are among the fastest growing group at risk for HIV sexual transmission in the U.S. They are also among the hardest to reach through HIV prevention programs--because they are often unaware of their HIV risk, disenfranchised and multiply stressed.

METHODS: This study uses storefront-based, street outreach to identify the determinants of current condom use and future intention to use condoms in a random sample of 346 women with partners they know or suspected to be i.v. drug users in public housing projects on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Female community interviewers administered a paid, standardized interview covering HIV health beliefs, including: perceived susceptibility to HIV; perceived barriers to condom use (i.e. perceived discomfort versus pleasure associated with condoms); perceived preventive efficacy of condoms; and perceived self-efficacy about using condoms. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify the determinants of current condom use and future intention to use condoms.

RESULTS: The sample was predominantly Latina (80%), and was a mean age of 33. Thirty-seven percent had a history of i.v. drug use. Forty per cent of the variance in current condom use was accounted for by: being Latina (versus being African-American) (p less than .02); having a history of i.v. drug use (p less than .006); belief in the efficacy of condoms (p less than .04); perception of condoms as pleasurable (p less than .0001); and perceived self-efficacy about using condoms (p less than .0001). Forty-nine per cent of the variance in future intention to use condoms was accounted for by: belief in the efficacy of condoms (p greater than .0001); perception of condoms as pleasurable (p less than .0001); perceived self-efficacy about using condoms; and perceived HIV susceptibility (p less than .0001).

CONCLUSION: Both current condom use and future intention to use condoms among FSPs are associated with elements of the Health Belief Model. In as much as these beliefs are traditionally malleable through health education programs, these findings may be interpreted as indications for tailoring such programs to these women. In particular, culturally specific programs should be targeted to African-American women and women without a history of i.v. drug use--who are less likely to be involved in current condom use or the intention to do so.

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