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Prevention strategies other than male condoms employed
by low-income women to prevent HIV infection.
Public Health Nursing 2000;17(1):53-60.
Crosby RA, Yarber WL, Meyerson B.
Abstract
This study sought to determine HIV prevention strategies other than male condom
use employed by low-income women who have sex with men (WSM) and to identify
variables that predict use of these strategies. A cross-sectional survey
of nearly 4,000 women receiving Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits
in 21 Missouri counties was conducted. The response rate was 58%, with 2,256
completed questionnaires returned. Women were asked to indicate one or more
of nine methods they had ever used to prevent HIV infection. Women were
also asked about their use of male condoms, preference for male condoms
versus female condoms, and which partner usually made decisions about STD/HIV
prevention. Of the 2,256 questionnaires returned, 1,325 WSM indicated use
of at least one HIV prevention strategy other than condom use. Strategies
were: being tested for HIV (68.2%), partner being tested for HIV (44.1%),
asking partner about his sex history (41.1%), using oral contraceptives
(18.8%), asking him if he has HIV (13.7%), douching (11.8%), withdrawal
(9.4%), and having anal or oral sex (6.6%). Common predictors of these strategies
were race, education, history of STD, condom use, and marital status. Basic
misunderstandings about HIV prevention are common in specified subpopulations
of low-income women. HIV prevention programs for low-income WSM should capitalize
on women's efforts to prevent HIV by designing programs to help women replace
ineffective prevention strategies with effective prevention strategies.