title: Understanding Consistent Condom Use Among Homeless Men Who Have Sex with Women and Engage in Multiple Sexual Partnerships: A Path Analysis.
abstract: Consistent condom use is the main strategy aimed at preventing individuals from acquiring HIV through sexual intercourse. The mechanism of consistent condom use among a high-risk homeless subpopulation-homeless men who have sex with women and also engage in multiple sexual partnerships-remains unclear. This study identified 182 homeless men who engaged in multiple sexual partnerships from a representative sample of homeless men, who self-identified as heterosexual, using meal line services in Downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row area. Information such as participants' condom use psychosocial correlates, sexual risk behaviors, and social network characteristics were collected. Results suggested that condom efficacy is a potential intervening mechanism through which condom attitudes (β = -0.199; p = 0.005) and depression (β = -0.156; p = 0.029) are associated with an individual's consistent condom use. Having more network members with whom participants talked about HIV prevention (β = 0.051; p = 0.006) was also found to be associated with an individual's consistent condom use. HIV prevention programs should focus on increasing their condom efficacy to help reduce HIV risks among this vulnerable homeless subpopulation.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA, hsuntahs@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Hsun-Ta
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Tamika D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Gilreath
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurzban
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012747:Sexual Partners; D060756:Social Networking; D014505:Urban Population; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology