Predictors of condom use and human immunodeficiency virus test seeking among women living in inner-city public housing developments.
OBJECTIVE
To examine prevalence and predictors of condom use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test seeking among women living in inner-city housing developments.


METHODS
Between April and June 1994, 671 women living in low-income housing developments in five cities in the United States completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire eliciting information on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk behavior and characteristics indicative of risk.


RESULTS
Most participants were women of color who were economically disadvantaged. Fifteen percent reported multiple sex partners, and 30% of women with one sex partner believed he had sex with someone else in the past year. Predictors of condom use included increased rates of safe-sex negotiation, stronger risk reduction intentions, absence of condom barrier beliefs, and multiple sex partners. Women tested for HIV in the past year were younger, perceived themselves to be at risk for HIV infection, reported more conversations with other women about AIDS concerns, and had condoms readily available.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV public health prevention interventions are urgently needed for women who live in low-income urban housing developments.
Heckman
T G
TG
Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
Sikkema
K J
KJ
Kelly
J A
JA
Fuqua
R W
RW
Mercer
M B
MB
Hoffmann
R G
RG
Winett
R A
RA
Anderson
E S
ES
Perry
M J
MJ
Roffman
R A
RA
Solomon
L J
LJ
Wagstaff
D A
DA
Cargill
V
V
Norman
A D
AD
Crumble
D
D
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011638:Public Housing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health