Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #161368

Sandi L. Pruitt, MPH¹, Patricia Dolan Mullen, DrPH¹, Kirk Von Sternberg, PhD², and Mary M. Velasquez². (1) Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, 7000 Fannin, UCT 2510I, Houston, TX 77030, 713-500-9975, Sandi.L.Pruitt@uth.tmc.edu, (2) School of Social Work, University of Texas, 1 University Station D3510, Austin, TX 78712

Background: Tubal ligation is the most common contraceptive method for poor women, removing one reason for condom use that may leave these women at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Previous studies found sterilized women less likely to report condom-protected sex. As with most STI risk studies, however, they did not control for the nested data structure--individuals can have multiple partner types--a weakness that can increase Type I errors. Objective: We explored the influence of sterility status, partner type, and individual and partner correlates on condom use. Method: We used logistic multi-level modeling to predict any condom use in the 30 days before entering the facility using data from an interview survey of sterilized and non-sterilized women aged 18-44 years, 10-14 days after entering an urban county jail (n=263) or residential drug/alcohol treatment center (n=229). Results: Of 492 pre-menopausal respondents without hysterectomy or oopherectomy, 191 reported tubal ligation. Sterilized women were less likely to report any condom use (OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.97). Women who were black non-Hispanic, in jail, HIV positive, and reported more partners were more likely to use condoms; condom use was more likely with “other” than with “main” partners. Conclusion: Condom use messages have had some success in reaching some high risk subgroups in Houston (HIV positive women, women with more partners). Because jail and treatment centers draw from populations with disproportionate STI risk, interventions promoting condom use should target sterilized women in these settings.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the association between sterilization and condom use in a high risk sample of women recruited from jail and alcohol and drug treatment centers
• Identify correlates of condom use with main and other partners in a high risk sample of women recruited from jail and alcohol and drug treatment centers
• Understand the utility of multilevel modeling for evaluating correlates of condom use with multiple partners

Keywords: Condom Use, Contraception

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.