RESUMEN
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are an important public health problem, due to their medical, social and economic repercussions. Therefore, more knowledge is needed about the sexual behaviour that promotes their spread, in order to improve control and prevention strategies. Our aim was to determine the frequency of male condom use associated with sexual behaviour factors, a history of and knowledge about STDs in a sample of the male population in Mexico City. During 1994 a cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out, using multi-stage sampling with conglomerates, in 1377 men from 15 to 49 years old. The mean age was 34.5 years (SD 7.5 years). Mean age at first sexual relations was 17.7 years (SD 2.8 years). The global proportion of condom use during the last sexual relation was 24.6%; use according to type of female sex partner in the last year was 18.8% with regular partners and 62.5% with occasional partners. The principal predictors of male condom use, identified through statistical modelling, were: younger age (<25 years), middle and high education level (>9 years), middle and high socioeconomic level and type of sexual partners (occasional and regular). This population has risk factors for acquiring and transmitting some STDs, such as occasional sexual partners and a history of STDs. Characteristics which are important in relation to male condom use were identified, such as age (younger than 35), education (complete junior high school or more) and type of sexual partners (occasional and regular).
PIP: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in 1994 to determine the frequency of condom use in Mexico City among sexually active men aged 15-49 years old, and the association with sexual behavior and a history of or knowledge about STDs. The 1377 men interviewed were of mean age 34.5 years, and experienced their first sexual intercourse at mean age 17.7 years. 47% of the men reported using a condom at least once in their lives and 81.6% were married. 79.4% reported having a formal partner, 14.6% had relations with occasional partners, and 6.1% with both regular and informal partners. 26.4% used a condom during their most recent sexual intercourse, 18.8% with formal partners and 62.5% with casual partners. Condom use with formal partners was largely to prevent pregnancy, while condom use with casual partners was to prevent the transmission of STDs. Young and single men were almost twice as likely to use condoms as older married men. The main predictors of male condom use were therefore being under 25 years old, having more than 9 years of formal education, being of middle to high socioeconomic status, and type of sex partners.
Asunto(s)
Condones/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , México , Persona de Mediana Edad , Parejas SexualesRESUMEN
PIP: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that half of all HIV infections in the US occur among people under age 25 years. HIV infection is the 6th leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 years. There are also 3 million other cases of STDs among teenagers every year, and up to 1 million US teens become pregnant annually. Research conducted by the CDC has found that teens whose mothers discussed condoms with them prior to their first sexual intercourse were 3 times more likely to use them than were teens who never discussed condoms with their mothers or who did so only after their first intercourse. Findings are based upon interviews with 372 sexually-active teens aged 14-17 years in New York, Alabama, and Puerto Rico, more than two-thirds of whom had discussed condoms with their mothers. Early discussion also increased condom use during subsequent episodes of sexual intercourse. When condoms were used at first intercourse, adolescents were 20 times more likely to use them during future episodes of sexual intercourse.^ieng
Asunto(s)
Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida , Adolescente , Comunicación , Condones , Infecciones por VIH , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Madres , Conducta Sexual , Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual , Factores de Edad , Alabama , Américas , Conducta , Región del Caribe , Anticoncepción , Demografía , Países Desarrollados , Países en Desarrollo , Enfermedad , Composición Familiar , Servicios de Planificación Familiar , Relaciones Familiares , Infecciones , América Latina , New York , América del Norte , Padres , Población , Características de la Población , Puerto Rico , Estados Unidos , VirosisRESUMEN
Hispanic women whose sexual partners have other sexual partners may be at risk for HIV. A structured interview was administered to 106 Dominican and Puerto Rican women who reported that they knew or suspected that their partner had other partners. A subsample participated in qualitative interviews. The study assessed concern about HIV and predictors of condom use. The majority of women reported that they worried about getting HIV and almost half had been HIV-tested. Most of the women discussed HIV/AIDS concerns with their partners, and one-third reported some condom use. Predictors of condom use were: born in the Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico, having talked with their partner about being tested, and belief that he used condoms with others. Although the women were concerned about HIV, condom use was infrequent. Results suggested methods to address this discrepancy: introducing condoms early in the relationship, developing women-controlled methods, and directly influencing men's behavior.
PIP: Hispanic women in the US, especially injecting drug users and partners of infected men, have a disproportionate risk of acquiring the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study focused on two groups of Hispanic women in New York City--45 Dominicans and 61 Puerto Ricans--who knew or suspected that their regular sexual partner was involved with other partners. Respondents were recruited from health clinics and social service agencies in 1992. Respondents had a relationship with their husband/boyfriend of at least one year's duration and no history of intravenous drug use. About half the women were living with their partner. 62% reported worrying "a lot" about HIV, and about half had been tested. 36% of Dominican and 33% of Puerto Rican women's partners used condoms with them; 27% of Dominican respondents and 41% of Puerto Rican women believed their partner used condoms with other partners. Logistic regression revealed that condom use was significantly more frequent among women born in the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico as opposed to the US, women who talked to their partners about being tested for HIV, and those who believed their partner was using condoms with other women. In focus group discussions, women reported they felt more confident negotiating condom use for contraceptive purposes than for disease prevention. They further indicated it was easier to introduce condom use at the start of a sexual relationship.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por VIH/psicología , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Hispánicos o Latinos , Adulto , Ansiedad , Condones/estadística & datos numéricos , República Dominicana/etnología , Femenino , Humanos , Ciudad de Nueva York , Puerto Rico/etnología , Parejas Sexuales , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
To determine factors influencing Hispanic women's HIV-related communication and condom use with their primary male partner, 189 Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Mexican women were interviewed regarding sexual behaviour and condom use, relationship characteristics, perceived risk for HIV, and HIV-related communication with the primary male partner. Level of HIV-related communication with the primary male partner was associated with the woman's perceived risk for HIV and her rating of the openness with which she could communicate with her primary partner. Mexican women were less likely than Puerto Rican or Dominican women and women with multiple partners were less likely than those with one partner to communicate about HIV-related issues with their primary partner. Women reporting more condom use with their primary partner were younger, had discussed HIV-related issues more with the primary partner, and were less likely to expect negative reactions to requests for condom use than those reporting less condom use. These results suggest that prevention programmes that increase both general and HIV-specific communication between members of a couple may facilitate safer sex practices by the couple. Prevention programmes that encourage women to insist on condom use should consider the woman's expectations about her partner's reaction as a potential barrier to the initiation of safer sex practices.
PIP: To determine factors influencing Hispanic women's HIV-related communication and condom use with their primary male partner, 189 Dominican (n = 44), Puerto Rican (n = 54), and Mexican women (n = 91) 18-40 years old were interviewed regarding sexual behavior and condom use, relationship characteristics, perceived risk of HIV, and HIV-related communication with the primary male partner. They were recruited from the waiting rooms of primary health care clinics in the Washington Heights (Dominican), and East Harlem (Puerto Rican) sections of New York City and in El Paso, Texas (Mexican). Level of HIV-related communication with the primary male partner was associated with the woman's perceived risk of HIV. Mexican women were less likely than Puerto Rican or Dominican women and women with multiple partners were less likely than those with one partner to communicate about HIV-related issues with their primary partner. Puerto Rican and Dominican women reported more HIV-related communication with their primary partner than did Mexican women (p 0.02). 71% of the participants had told their partner they were worried about getting the AIDS virus from him. 59% of the women had asked their partner to change his behavior to this effect, but Mexican women were less likely to request such change and they were also the least likely to report any condom use (p 0.05). Overall, 74% of the women reported never using condoms with their primary partner in the past 6 months, 13% reported sometimes using condoms, and 13% reported always using them. Women reporting more condom use with their primary partner were younger, had discussed HIV-related issues more with the primary partner, and were less likely to expect negative reactions to requests for condom use than those reporting less condom use. These results suggest that prevention programs that increase both general and HIV-specific communication between members of a couple may facilitate safer sex practices by the couple.