3059.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - Board 4

Abstract #5474

Correlates of condom use among sterilized and non-sterilized Hispanic women

Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar, PhD, Flavia Horth, MD, and Alfred N. Poindexter, MD. OB/GYN, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, (713)798-8057, halehs@bcm.tmc.edu

Female voluntary tubal sterilization is one of the most prevalent methods of contraception among women in the United States. There is a paucity of data concerning the dual use of condoms among sterilized women, in particular among Hispanics. One recent report indicate that Hispanic women undergoing sterilization have the lowest rate of planned condom use as compared to other ethnic groups. However, the underlying reasons for this finding are currently unknown. The high rate of condom abandonment among Hispanics may be of concern, because of reports about the increased frequency of Hispanic men's involvement with a secondary sexual partner, and the low frequency of condom use with such partners. The present study examined condom use with main, and casual partners among 100 surgically sterilized, and 100 non-sterilized Hispanic women, residing in low-income communities, and at risk for HIV infection. The study used constructs from behavioral science theories to identify psychosocial factors that best predict condom use. Specifically, questions were asked about attitudes towards condom use, perceived self-efficacy, perceived barriers to condom use, sexual risk taking behavior, partner's influences in contraceptive decision making, reasons for use of condoms with different partners, reasons for selecting tubal sterilization, and the level of satisfaction with this contraceptive method. Logistic and multivariate regression analyses were used to analyze the influence of various factors on condom use. As condom use remains the primary means for containing the spread of the HIV epidemic, results of this study are important for designing and implementing tailored intervention programs.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session the participant in this session will be able to identify the extent of condom use and reasons for its use/non-use with main and casual partners among sterilized and non-sterilized Hispanic women

Keywords: Disease Prevention, Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA