RESUMO
Although the rates of HIV are increasing among female populations in developing countries, there is little information available about factors influencing sexual risk taking among working class women. This paper describes some of the issues discussed by two groups of 58 women working in Jamaica: Informal Commercial Importers and women working in the Freezone. These women discuss their economic vulnerability, expectations about the role of men as providers, multiple partners, perceptions of children as resources and concern about physical abuse as factors that could influence decisions about condom use. The implications of these findings are discussed for their impact on intervention programs targeting working class women in Jamaica.
Assuntos
Assunção de Riscos , Comportamento Sexual/etnologia , Mulheres Trabalhadoras/psicologia , Adulto , Tomada de Decisões , Dependência Psicológica , Feminino , Apoio Financeiro , Infecções por HIV/etnologia , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Infecções por HIV/transmissão , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Jamaica , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Motivação , Poder Psicológico , Papel (figurativo) , Estudos de Amostragem , Parceiros Sexuais , Valores Sociais/etnologia , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
Because of the high prevalence of marijuana smoking in Jamaica, it is important to know if this practice is associated with increased risk for STD infections. A national sample of 2 580 randomly selected Jamaicans, aged 15 to 49 years were administered a questionnaire to measure a number of health and behavioural variables. The results indicated that more persons who smoked marijuana before sex had a history of STD infections than non-marijuana smokers, the difference was significant among men (46% vs 26%, p < 0.001) but not among women (19% vs 8%, p = 0.09). There was no difference in age, however, more of the smokers were unmarried, poorly educated and unemployed than persons who did not smoke marijuana before sex. They were also more likely to engage in high risk sex behaviours and other risk taking behaviors than non-smokers. The results of multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that marijuana smoking before sex was an independent risk factor for STDs among men (Odds Ratio = 2.0, p = 0.04). Although it was not possible to determine if the association was causal, the increased risk for STDs among men who smoke marijuana before sex should be incorporated into the Jamaican STD/AIDS control programme by making special efforts to encourage condom use among marijuana smokers.
Assuntos
Fumar Maconha/efeitos adversos , Fumar Maconha/epidemiologia , Comportamento Sexual , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Feminino , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Razão de Chances , Fatores de Risco , Assunção de Riscos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Because of the high prevalence of marijuana smoking in Jamaica, it is important to know if this practice is associated with increased risk for STD infections. A national sample of 2,580 randomly selected Jamaicans, aged 15 to 49 years were administered a questionnaire to measure a number of health and behavioural variables. The results indicated that more persons who smoked marijuana before sex had a history of STD infections than non-marijuana smokers, the difference was significant among men (46 percent vs 26 percent, p < 0.001) but not among women (19 percent vs 8 percent, p = 0.09). There was no difference in age, however, more of the smokers were unmarried, poorly educated and unemployed than persons who did not smoke marijuana before sex. They were also more likely to engage in high risk sex behaviours and other risk taking behaviors than non-smokers. The results of multiple logistic analyses indicated that marijuana smoking before sex was an independent risk factor for STDs among men (Odd Ratio = 2.0, p = 0.04). Although it was not possible to determine if the association was causal, the increased risk for STDs among men who smoke marijuana before sex should be incorporated into the Jamaican STD/AIDS control programme by making special efforts to encourage condom use among marijuana smokers