HIV prevention in single, urban women: condom-use readiness.
OBJECTIVE
To understand women's readiness to use condoms and their perceived pros and cons for condom use.


METHODS
Comparative, descriptive design guided by the Transtheoretical Model.


METHODS
Data were collected at two urban primary health care centers in western New York.


METHODS
364 single urban women with steady (main) or other (casual, concurrent, multiple, new) sexual partners. Most participants were young (mean age of 27 years), economically disadvantaged women of color.


METHODS
Each participant completed an anonymous questionnaire that included items for the stage of change algorithm, decisional balance of the pros and cons of condom use, sexual history, and HIV risk information.


RESULTS
Most women were in the early stages of change (not intending to use condoms), but those with other partners were further along in the stages of change for condom use than those with steady partners. The pros or advantages of condom use differed for these women depending on partner type. The change in the balance between the pros and cons occurred as theoretically predicted for women with steady and other partners.


CONCLUSIONS
Effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions for women may be enhanced if they are tailored to both readiness to change and partner type.
Morrison-Beedy
D
D
University of Rochester, School of Nursing, NY 14642, USA. dianne_morrison-beedy@urmc.rochester.edu
Lewis
B P
BP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D017145:Models, Educational; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009518:New York; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012847:Single Person / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health; D014930:Women / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*