title: Negotiation of HIV preventive behaviors in divorced and separated women reentering the sexual arena.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand divorced and separated women's experience of negotiating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preventive behaviors when resuming sexual activity following long-term monogamous relationships. A little-studied but large group, these women are at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, have low rates of protective behaviors, and have not been targeted for prevention education. Seven women entering a sexual milieu altered by the presence of HIV after at least a 10-year period of monogamy comprised the sample. A descriptive phenomenologic methodology incorporating Colaizzi's method for data analysis revealed four themes: (a) keeping the magic, (b) Am I an adolescent or an adult? (c) holding on to self, and (d) gender perspectives. These women's words help to illuminate their issues regarding HIV prevention, guiding further nursing research and HIV preventive educational interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health and Life Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, USA.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms; D003237:Connecticut; D003380:Courtship; D004243:Divorce; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017008:Negotiating; D009515:New Jersey; D009518:New York; D021841:Safe Sex; D012649:Self Concept; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology