Effects of fear of abuse and possible STI acquisition on the sexual behavior of young African American women.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the interactive effects of fear of abuse and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on sexual risk behaviors in a sample of young African American women.


METHODS
We recruited 715 young African American women aged 15 to 21 years from a variety of health clinics and assessed them for fear of abuse because of negotiating condom use, knowledge of STIs, and several sexual risk behaviors.


RESULTS
Overall, 75% of young African American women reported inconsistent condom use in the past 60 days. Surprisingly, under relatively higher levels of fear, young women with high STI knowledge were more likely than were those with low STI knowledge to exhibit inconsistent condom use in the past 60 days (89% vs 80%; chi(2) = 4.32; P < or = .04) and during the last sexual intercourse with a main sexual partner (76% vs 70%; chi(2) = 8.06; P < or = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Most HIV prevention interventions focus on increasing knowledge about the transmission of STIs. However, other contextual factors such as fear of abuse because of negotiating condom use may heighten the risk of HIV infection. Our findings highlight the need for combining dating violence prevention activities with STI and HIV prevention programs targeting young African American women.
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. jraifor@sph.emory.edu
Jerris L
JL
Raiford
Ralph J
RJ
Diclemente
Gina M
GM
Wingood
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014504:Urban Health; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult