Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109877

Pamela I. Erickson, DrPH, PhD, Dugeidy Ortiz, BA, and Louise Badiane, RN, MA. Anthropology Dept., University of Connecticut, U-2176, Storrs, CT 06269-2176, 860-486-1736, pamela.erickson@uconn.edu

The type of relationship and level of commitment between sexual partners has been shown to affect the kinds of sexual behaviors people engage in and whether or not they use condoms or safer sex practices to prevent STIs and pregnancy. We present focus group discussion (FGD) and free list findings on types of relationships reported by inner city African American and Puerto Rican self-identified heterosexual young adults (age 18 to 25) in Hartford and Philadelphia (N=17 FGDs, 145 participants) collected by a CDC-funded study of sexual communication and decision-making. Findings indicate a wide range of relationship types from casual one-night stands to committed live-in arrangements with a particularly large number of relationships at the casual end of the continuum that seem to represent a high proportion of relationships among respondents. Participants indicated that condoms were acceptable in casual relationships, but they also said that safe sex was not usually a high priority in such relationships, and were not, in fact, very likely to be used unless the partner appeared to be dirty - literally unkempt, unwashed. Condoms were almost never used in more committed relationships. The kinds of relationships did not vary by gender, ethnicity, or location, although terminology was somewhat different across these different subgroups. Importantly, outsiders could easily misinterpret the meaning of the terms, and we have developed a dictionary for staff training. These findings underline the critical importance of understanding the social context of sexual and romantic relationships for promoting safer sex in this population.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to

• List five new terms for relationships used by inner city African American and Puerto Rican young adults.
• Describe how type of relationship affects condom use.
• Recognize how these findings relate to design of intervention approaches to reduce sexual and reproductive risk.

Keywords: Sexual Behavior, Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation