Abstract
Objectives: The present study examines psychosocial and behavioral influences, particularly
drug and alcohol use, as correlates of inconsistent condom use and having multiple
sexual partners during the past month among African-American women.
Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between May and June 1996, recruited
a convenience sample of 180 African-American women in Birmingham, Alabama. Women completed
a face-to-face interview that assessed alcohol and drug use, sexual behaviors, depression,
condom use, and negotiation skills.
Results: The majority of women, 51.6% (n = 93), had used either alcohol or drugs during
the previous month. Many women, 31.1%, consumed alcohol, 18.3% used marijuana, and
8.3% had smoked crack within the past month. Nearly 42.7% of women used condoms inconsistently
in the past month and 13.3% of women had multiple sexual partners within the past
month. A logistic regression model predicting inconsistent condom use indicated that
women were less likely to use condoms if they consumed alcohol between 20 and 30 days
of the month (OR = 2.8, 90% CI = 1.3–5.9) and if they had not negotiated condom use
(OR = 32.4, 90% CI = 7.9–131.6). The logistic regression model predicting multiple
sexual partners indicated that women were more likely to have multiple sexual partners
if they had smoked crack in the past month (OR = 5.3, 90% CI = 1.6–18.2).
Conclusion: HIV sexual risk-reduction interventions for African-American women need
to address the overlapping epidemics of drugs, alcohol, and STDs. Additionally, HIV
sexual risk reduction efforts should be incorporated into existing drug and alcohol
treatment programs and STD clinics.
Keywords
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© 1998 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
