title: Sexual partnerships, risk behaviors, and condom use among low-income heterosexual African Americans: a qualitative study.
abstract: The purpose of the current investigation was to contextualize the sexual relationships and risk behaviors of heterosexually active African Americans. A total of 38 participants (20 females and 18 males) aged 18-44 years were recruited in a large city in the southeastern U.S. to participate in focus group discussions exploring sexual partnerships, general condom perceptions, and condom negotiation. Results indicated that participants distinguished among at least three partner types-one-night stand, "regular" casual partner, and main partner. Partner types were found to shape and influence types of sexual behaviors, perceptions of risk and condom use, and condom negotiation. Participants also shared general perceptions about condoms and elucidated situations in which intentions to use condoms were not realized. Gender differences emerged in many of these areas. Implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research on sexual partnerships and risk behavior are offered.
authors.affiliation: School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365, USA. noar@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Seth M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Noar
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Stee
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feist-Price
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.forename: Jessica Fitts
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Willoughby
authors.forename: Adewale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troutman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires