Women's Condom Research Articles

Low-income African American women's attempts to convince their main partner to use condoms.

In this cross-sectional study the authors examine condom use attempts and condom use among 305 high-risk, low-income African American women who reported having a main partner. Women who had recently attempted to convince their main partner to use condoms were almost 10 times more likely to have recently used condoms with their partner than women who had not made an attempt. Among the subsample of 116 women who had recently made a condom use attempt with their main partner, having a history of childhood abuse and having one's main partner raise infidelity questions in response to the condom use attempt were negatively associated with recent condom use with this partner. Findings provide initial insights into the importance of women's condom use attempts, as well as subgroups of women who may encounter special challenges convincing their main partner to use condoms.

Current issues in contraception

The authors analyze contemporary methods of contraception. Regarding oral contraception, they point to agents which decrease the efficacy of oral contraception. They also deal with agents which increase the level of estrogen, thus increasing side effects (paracetamol, vitamin C). Oral contraceptives may also have an impact on the efficacy of some medications (anticonvulsants, antidepresants). Health risks of oral contraceptives are also mentioned, as well as WHO's, guidelines for women using contraceptives based on risks and benefits. OTHER METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION The authors also offer criteria for use of bioactive intrauterine devices (IUD), with recommendations of WHO. Besides men's, there are women's condoms, which are very reliable protection against infections, but their negative side is that they are rather expensive. Bad sides of vaginal wash are also emphasized, although this method is rather widespread in the world. At the end, the authors quote the Internationa Family Planning Fund (IFPF) which considers IUD to be the most reliable method of contraception nowadays.

“The Ball was Always in His Court”: An Exploratory Analysis of Relationship Scripts, Sexual Scripts, and Condom Use among African American Women

This qualitative study explored the association between African American women's interpersonal relationship and sexual scripts and condom use with primary partners. Participants were 14 lower to middle-income women between the ages of 22 and 39 involved in emotionally and sexually intimate heterosexual relationships. Relationship types included those that were: stable, emotionally committed; casual, primarily sexual; and unstable, emotionally imbalanced and/or conflict-ridden. Respondents completed a semi-structured interview and a questionnaire about their relationships, sexual, and condom use behaviors. Data analyses identified 3 interpersonal relationship scripts (i.e., men control relationships, women sustain relationships, infidelity is normative) and 2 interpersonal sexual scripts (i.e., men control sexual activity; women want to use condoms, but men control condom use) that may indirectly or directly decrease African American women's condom use with primary partners, and in turn increase their HIV risk. We discuss these interpersonal scripts within the context of sociocultural factors relevant to African American women, heterosexual relationships, and communities.

Perceived condom use self-efficacy among at-risk women.

The objectives of this study are to assess the confidence in their ability to use condoms among at-risk women and identify predictors for the women's condom use self-efficacy. Structured interviews were conducted with 250 adult women in Atlanta, Georgia, between August 1997 and August 2000. Overall, the women reported feeling moderately to moderately-strongly confident in their ability to use condoms consistently. Multivariate analysis showed women with higher condom use self-efficacy were significantly younger, experienced childhood neglect, had higher self-esteem, communicated better with their sex partner, and had fewer drug problems. Findings suggest the importance of addressing condom use self-efficacy in HIV risk reduction programs with a specific focus on women and the need to be attuned to tailored needs for specific subgroups such as older women or women who encountered childhood neglect.

Gender-related psychosocial and cultural factors associated with condom use among Chinese married women.

The present study explored the interplay of psychosocial, gender, and cultural factors on Chinese married women's condom use. A total of 433 Chinese married women residing in Hong Kong participated in the study. Correlation results showed that participants' conservative gender attitudes toward sexuality and sexual decision making were related to less accurate HIV/AIDS knowledge and less concern about contacting the disease from their husbands. About 34.4% of the sexually active participants never used condoms in the past 6 months, and current condom use was associated with egalitarian gender attitudes, positive feelings about condom use, and concerns about contacting HIV/AIDS from their husbands. Among all participants, 32.5% reported that they would not use condoms in their future sexual encounters. Future condom use was related to shorter duration of marriage, accurate HIV/AIDS knowledge, egalitarian gender attitudes, current condom use, and positive feelings about condom use. Results from the logistic regression analyses showed that egalitarian gender attitudes toward sexuality and positive feelings about condom use were the most salient predictors for current and future condom use.

Relational sexual scripts and women's condom use: The importance of internalized norms

Three studies were conducted to explore the impact of scripted sociosexual norms on women's contraceptive behavior. In Study 1, scripts of an initial sexual encounter written by 36 female and 30 male undergraduates were analyzed for relational orientation. Women portrayed the female character as more relational than the male character. Scripts including condom use were less relational than those without condom use. In Study 2, a Relational Ideal factor from an Ideal Sexual Self Scale was obtained from the responses of 272 female participants. The Relational Ideal was used in Study 3 to predict contraceptive attitudes and behavior in 62 undergraduate women. Endorsement of the Relational Ideal, controlling for sexual attitudes, was associated with less positive attitudes towards condoms, lesser likelihood of condom use during last intercourse, and greater latency to obtaining contraceptives in relationships. These results are discussed with respect to the incorporation of condoms into relational scripts, and the impact of these scripts on women's contraceptive behavior.

Women's Self-Reported Condom Use: Intra and Interpersonal Factors

ABSTRACT In the past several years, the greatest proportionate increase in AIDS diagnoses has occurred among women. Yet, while the risk of HIV infection increases, female college students continue to report inconsistent HIV prevention behaviors. Past research on condom use among college women has focused on intrapersonal aspects of the behavior, and little is known about the influence of interpersonal factors on women's condom use. In this study we examined the relative salience of both intra and interpersonal factors on African American and white women's use of condoms. We found that interpersonal variables were particularly salient predictors of condom use. There were no ethnic differences in the effects of interpersonal variables; however, there were differences in the effects of self-efficacy on condom use.

The impact of information about the prevalence of AIDS-Preventive behavior among men and women: The mediating role of social norms

The present study was designed to examine the effect of information about the high prevalence of safe sex on condom use intention, and to investigate the possible mediating role of the perceived social norm of friends, and the perceived social norm of future. sexual partners. Participants were provided with gender specific prevalence information, that is with the information that most men have exclusively safe sex, or with the information that most women exclusively engage in safe sexual behavior. The results show some gender differences. Information about the high prevalence of safe sex among men tends to increase women's condom use intention, and this effect seems to be mediated by the paceived social norm of future sexual partners. Men's intention, on the other hand, seems to be unaffected by high prevalence information of safe sex. Implications for research and prevention are discussed

The Condom Conundrum: Barriers to Condom Use among Commercial Sex Workers in Durban, South Africa

We examined socio-cultural and economic determinants of condom use among 100 female South African commercial sex workers. The symbolism and dynamics of condom use between sex workers and their clientele were explored. These issues were also investigated when sex workers negotiated sex with their personal partners. An additional focus was the extent to which HIV/AIDS influences women's condom use in these situations. Results demonstrate considerable contrast between factors influencing condom use in professional versus private sex situations. With clients, practical issues such as financial strain were the major obstacles to condom use. With personal sex partners, sex workers avoided condoms due to their negative symbolism. Condoms were seen as suggestive of filth, disease, infidelity, and mistrust. HIV/AIDS awareness had minimal impact on condom use. HIV/AIDS was viewed as a remote threat, overridden by immediate practical and emotional concerns. The intervention implications of condom symbolism and differential barriers to condom use are discussed.

Young women's condom use: The influence of acceptance of sexuality, control over the sexual encounter, and perceived susceptibility to common STDs.

Young women's condom use: The influence of acceptance of sexuality, control over the sexual encounter, and perceived susceptibility to common STDs.

Young women's condom use: the influence of acceptance of sexuality, control over the sexual encounter, and perceived susceptibility to common STDs.

A comprehensive model of the determinants of condom use among young women was developed, tested, and replicated, with longitudinal follow-up to assess predictive utility of the model for condom use over time. Participants in Study 1 and Study 2 were 198 female undergraduates (mean age, 18.6 years) and 238 female undergraduates (mean age, 19.1 years), respectively. Acceptance of sexuality and control over the sexual encounter were related to a multidimensional measure of condom use self-efficacy, which predicted condom use intentions. Perceived susceptibility to STDs was both directly related to intentions and indirectly related through perceived benefits and attitudes about condom use. Intentions predicted subsequent reports of condom use. The model suggests foci for condom use interventions for young women.

Couple communication, sexual coercion and HIV risk reduction in Kigali, Rwanda.

To describe sexual interaction and HIV-related communication in Rwandan couples and to examine their relationship to HIV testing and condom use. Cross-sectional survey of a longitudinal cohort. In 1988, women recruited for an epidemiological study of HIV, and interested male partners, received confidential HIV testing and counseling. Two years after enrollment, 876 women reporting one steady partner in the past year completed a questionnaire addressing sexual and HIV-related communication, sexual motivation and violence in the partnership. Men control sexual decision making, and coercive sex and violence between partners is not uncommon. HIV-positive women were more likely to report coercive sex and less likely to have discussed their test results with their partner. Women with HIV-positive partners were more likely to report being physically abused. Condom use was more common if the man had been previously tested, and if women reported discussing or negotiating condom use. HIV-negative women with untested or seronegative partners were the least likely to use condoms or to discuss or attempt to negotiate condom use. Participation of the male partner is crucial for successful HIV risk reduction in couples. HIV testing and counseling of couples has beneficial long term effects on condom use and HIV-related communication. Couple communication is associated with condom use, but only when the discussion is specific (sexually transmitted disease risks and using condoms). Seronegative women with untested partners are at increased risk for HIV as they are the least likely to discuss or attempt to negotiate condom use.

HIV-preventive cognitions amongst secondary school students in Uganda.

A self-completion questionnaire was used to survey HIV-preventive cognitions among secondary school students in Kabarole district, Uganda. An encouraging pattern of HIV-preventive beliefs was observed, suggesting that health education efforts have been effective in establishing basic transmission knowledge, accurate risk perception and an understanding of effective precautions. Further analysis explored the prerequisites of men and women's HIV-preventive self-efficacy, and intentions and tolerance of people with AIDS. Approximately a third of variance in men and women's condom use self-efficacy, half the variance in women's condom use intentions and a quarter of the variance in men's condom use intentions was accounted for by specified variables. Results offered support for psychological relationships proposed by social cognition models and suggested specific health education targets for young Ugandan men and women.

Femidom – a condom for women

Femidom, a condom which offers women a new method of barrier contraception, is now available in the UK. It is promoted as “the first contraceptive product for women that provides protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases”.

Preliminary evaluation of reality™, a condom for women

(1990). Preliminary evaluation of reality™, a condom for women. AIDS Care: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 287-290.

Evaluation of the Virus Permeability of a New Condom for Women

The authors tested a polyurethane women's condom for permeability to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) using an artificial intercourse model. They did not detect viral leakage in three trials for each virus. Use of this device, which can be controlled by the woman, may reduce HIV and CMV infection.

A Family Planning Clinic in the factory.

A family planning clinic was established at British Telecom's Cwmcarn factory in 1984 and after 3 months of operation was extended to include well-woman screening. The failure of women in social classes IV and V to use preventive health services in the community had been documented. The clinic was held twice a week in the factory's medical center, and the full range of contraceptive supplies were distributed. During the 1st year of operation, 553 consultations took place during 94 sessions. Before the factory clinic was available to employees, 20% were obtaining family planning services from a general practitioner, 32% were attending local authority family planning clinics, and 46% were receiving no family planning services from any source. Combined oral contraceptives were the method selected most frequently by those attending the factory family planning clinic, followed by the condom for women under age 35 years and sterilization among women over this age. In addition, women who had been sexually active for 1-2 years or complained of gynecological symptoms were considered for cervical cytology. Routine breast examinations were carried out on women over age 35 years or in younger women with symptoms of breast disease. 3 unwanted pregnancies occurred among clinic attendees during the year studied, 2 of which were attributable to patient failure.