Sexual Relationship Power and Semen Exposure Among Female Patients at a Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic in Kingston, Jamaica.
Women's power in sexual relationships is thought to be an important predictor of condom use. However, research on correlates of condom use often relies on participant reporting of behavior, which has questionable validity. We evaluated the association between scores from the modified Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS-M) and biological detection of semen exposure in a prospective study of adult women attending a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Kingston, Jamaica with cervicitis or abnormal vaginal discharge in 2010-2011. At enrollment, women were counseled to avoid sex while on treatment and were asked to return in 6 days for a follow-up visit. At both study visits, women were administered a questionnaire and had vaginal swabs collected to test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a biological marker of recent semen exposure. We found no significant association at enrollment or follow-up between SRPS-M scores and semen exposure, as measured with either self-reported data or PSA positivity. Semen biomarkers could be used to develop and validate new scales on relationship power and self-efficacy related to condom use.
Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 324 Cunz Hall, 1841 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210-1351, USA. mgallo@cph.osu.edu.
Maria F
MF
Gallo
Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K-34, Atlanta, GA, 30341-3724, USA.
Jennifer
J
Legardy-Williams
Clinical Sciences Division, FHI 360, 2224 E NC Hwy 54, Durham, NC, 27713, USA.
Markus J
MJ
Steiner
Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, MLC 5041, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3039, USA.
Maurizio
M
Macaluso
Health Services Research and Evaluation Branch, Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Marion
M
Carter
Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7031, 8317 MBRB, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
Marcia M
MM
Hobbs
Comprehensive Health Centre/Epidemiology Research and Training Unit, Jamaica Ministry of Health, 55 Slipe Pen Rd, Kingston, Jamaica.
Tina
T
Hylton-Kong
Comprehensive Health Centre/Epidemiology Research and Training Unit, Jamaica Ministry of Health, 55 Slipe Pen Rd, Kingston, Jamaica.
Clive
C
Anderson
Clinical Sciences Division, FHI 360, 2224 E NC Hwy 54, Durham, NC, 27713, USA.
Elizabeth
E
Costenbader
Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K-34, Atlanta, GA, 30341-3724, USA.
Lee
L
Warner
D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D021841:Safe Sex; D012661:Semen; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Condoms; Scale; Semen biomarker; Sexually transmitted infections; Validity