Unprotected sex of homeless women living in Los Angeles county: an investigation of the multiple levels of risk.
This research uses multi-level modeling to investigate the context of unprotected sex of homeless women. Based on interviews with 429 randomly selected women living in temporary shelter settings in Los Angeles, this project investigates multiple levels of influence on unprotected sex with particular partners. Previous studies have investigated condom use of homeless women primarily at the individual level. This project investigates unprotected sex at the level of the partnership, the individual woman, and her social network. Homeless women who believe in the efficacy of condoms to prevent HIV infection, believe that they have low susceptibility to HIV and have a greater proportion of their non-sex partner social network ties with whom they speak about HIV are less likely to engage in unprotected sex. Women are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior in relationships in which they have high commitment to their partner and experience physical violence.
Kennedy
David P
DP
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA. davidk@rand.org
Wenzel
Suzanne L
SL
Tucker
Joan S
JS
Green
Harold D
HD
Golinelli
Daniela
D
Ryan
Gery W
GW
Beckman
Robin
R
Zhou
Annie
A
D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D047568:Unsafe Sex