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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

S. Marie Harvey, DrPH, MPH and Ann Zukoski, DrPH, MPH. Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, 256 Waldo Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-6406, (541) 737-3824, marie.harvey@oregonstate.edu

Despite the fact that HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects Latino communities, significant gaps exist in information available on Latina sexual and reproductive health. Latinas are seven times more likely to become infected with HIV compared to White women and heterosexual contact is the primary source of HIV transmission among Latinas diagnosed with AIDS. In calling for theoretical frameworks that integrate social-structural factors and cognitive-behavioral factors for HIV prevention for women, Amaro and Raj suggest the need to include individually based factors within the context of the larger social dynamics of gender and race/ethnicity. This study examined the influence of individual and relationship factors on condom use in a community-based sample of young urban Latina women. Participants (n=202) completed 60-minute in-person interviews. Independent variables were selected based upon prior research on determinants of condom use among heterosexual women and prominent theoretical frameworks of behavior change. In addition to individual variables (i.e., attitudes toward condoms, condom use self-efficacy, perceived vulnerability to HIV/STIs), this study examined the role of male partners and relationship factors (i.e., relationship duration, relationship commitment, condom use decision-making, expectations of negative partner reactions to condom use requests) on condom use in the past three months. Preliminary findings from multivariate analysis indicated that more positive attitudes toward condoms, stronger partner condom norms, greater participation in decision-making about condom use, lower expectations of negative partner reactions to condom requests and relationships of shorter duration were significantly associated with condom use. Implications for improving reproductive rights and sexual health of Latinas will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify what factors are most strongly associated with condom use among a sample of Latina women at increased risk for HIV.
• Describe the influence of male partners and relationship factors on HIV prevention among this sample of women.
• Discuss the implications of the findings for the improving the sexual health and reproductive rights of Latina women.

Keywords: Latinas, Condom Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered