177555 Predictors of Male Condom Use Skills among High-Risk Women in Pretoria, South Africa

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Felicia A. Browne, MPH, CHES , Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluations and Interventions, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
Wendee M. Wechsberg, PhD , Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluations and Interventions, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
J. Michael Bowling, PhD , Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Winnie Luseno, MS , Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluations and Interventions, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
Background: When used consistently and correctly, male latex condoms help to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, in order to maximize the effectiveness of this HIV/STI prevention method, condom use skills are essential. This exploratory study examines the performance of South African women who recently traded sex for goods or had unprotected sex on a four-item condom use mastery scale (N = 295). Methods: Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine whether age, marital status, education, male condom use at first penetrative sexual experience, receiving prior demonstration of male condom use, and recently trading sex for goods were significant predictors of male condom use skills scores. Results: Participants on average executed only 33.9% of the steps correctly, and almost one-third of the sample was unable to demonstrate any of the steps correctly. Bivariate analyses indicated age, marital status, education, and receiving prior demonstration of male condom use were significantly associated with condom use skills scores (p < .10); these variables were included in multivariate analysis. Whether participants had been shown how to use a male condom previously remained a significant predictor of condom skills in multivariate analysis (p = .046). Conclusion: These findings offer support for on going prevention programs that include a component to improve condom use skills. However, more behavioral skills training is needed for women engaging in sexual risk behaviors because many do not have the skills required to use a male condom properly to protect themselves from HIV/STIs.

Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn about barriers and basics to male condom use skills among at-risk South African women. Participants will learn about the association of sociodemographic and sexual risk factors and male condom use skills.

Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Condom Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the data analyses for this paper and am the first author of this paper.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

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