title: In their own words: romantic relationships and the sexual health of young African American women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed young African American women's understanding of "dual protection" (DP) (i.e., strategies that simultaneously protect against unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases [STDs]) and how relationship factors influence their use of DP methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted 10 focus groups with African American women (n=51) aged 15-24 years in Atlanta, Georgia, to identify barriers to and facilitators of their DP use. Focus group participants also completed a brief self-administered questionnaire that assessed demographics and sexual behaviors. We analyzed focus group data by theme: relationships, planning for sex, pregnancy intentions, STD worries, the trade-off between pregnancy and STDs, attitudes toward condoms and contraceptives, and understanding of DP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the questionnaire, 51% of participants reported that an STD would be the "worst thing that could happen," and 26% reported that being pregnant would be "terrible." Focus group data suggested that most participants understood what DP was but thought it was not always feasible. Relationship factors (e.g., trust, intimacy, length of relationship, and centrality) affected pregnancy intentions, STD concerns, and use of DP. Social influences (e.g., parents) and pregnancy and STD history also affected attitudes about pregnancy, STDs, and relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although participants identified risks associated with sex, a complex web of social and relationship factors influenced the extent to which they engaged in protective behavior. The extent to which relationship factors influence DP may reflect developmental tasks of adolescence and should be considered in any program promoting sexual health among young African American women.
authors: Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. ccritte@emory.edu
authors: Colleen Crittenden
authors: CC
authors: Murray
authors: Kendra
authors: K
authors: Hatfield-Timajchy
authors: Joan Marie
authors: JM
authors: Kraft
authors: Anna R
authors: AR
authors: Bergdall
authors: Melissa A
authors: MA
authors: Habel
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Kottke
authors: Ralph J
authors: RJ
authors: Diclemente
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult