M. Isabel Fernandez, PhD, Tatiana Perrino, PsyD, and Shari Messinger, PhD. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, P.O. 016069, D-93, Miami, FL 33101, 305-243-2630, MFernan4@med.miami.edu

Poor, minority women continue to show inconsistent condom use and disproportionate rates of STI/ HIV infection. Recent interventions have focused on messages that incorporate different prevention options in order of proven effectiveness (i.e., abstinence as the best option, followed by male condoms, then female condoms), hypothesizing that women with back-up protection methods will be more likely to have safer sex. Data for these analyses come from a prevention intervention study of disadvantaged, sexually active, minority women at sexual risk for STI/ HIV (i.e., inconsistent or non-condom users). We focused on the 112 women who had just completed a multiple options intervention, encouraging male condoms as the most effective prevention method, and female condoms as the next most effective method. Immediately post-intervention, we examined the factors associated with women’s willingness to use female condoms in situations where they would be unable or unwilling to use male condoms. Analyses show that women with reasons to believe they were at risk for STI/ HIV were more receptive to the multiple options message (i.e., more accepting of female condoms as a back-up to male condoms). Specifically, women in non-monogamous relationships and those with no recent male condom use prior to intervention, showed greater acceptability of female condoms as a back-up method. Similarly, women who were accepting of male condoms post-intervention were also more accepting of female condoms as a back-up. Findings suggest that disadvantaged, minority women at higher sexual risk for STI/ HIV may be the most receptive to interventions with multiple options messages.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe the characteristics of high risk, minority women who may be most receptive to using female condoms as a back-up prevention method.
• Using the findings of these analyses, discuss ways in which STI/ HIV prevention interventions can tailor prevention messages to reach poor, minority women at high risk for HIV.

Keywords: Minority Health, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.