Researchers speculate that women have difficulty negotiating safer sex strategies with their male partners due to power imbalances in sexual decision-making. Few studies, however, have examined sexual decision-making and its relationship to safer sex behavior. Even fewer have collected and analyzed data on these topics from both members of a sexually active couple. The objectives of this study were to 1) examine the influence of gender, ethnicity, and relationship characteristics on which member of a couple makes decisions regarding sexual and reproductive behaviors; 2) explore the relationship between decision-making dominance and safer sex behaviors; and 3) examine the level of concordance between members of a couple regarding decision-making dominance. Data come from baseline interviews conducted with both members of over 200 heterosexual couples at high risk for HIV/STD and were eligible to participate in a project (the PARTNERS Project) designed to develop, implement, and evaluate a couple-based intervention to reduce unprotected intercourse among young (aged 18-25) women and their heterosexual partners. As part of the baseline interview, participants were asked to indicate on a 5-point scale (from “not at all” to “a great deal”) how much they take part in deciding when to get pregnant, to use something to keep from getting pregnant, to use a condom, to have sex, and what kinds of things to do when having sex. They also rated how much they perceived their partners to be the decision-makers in the same five domains. Findings and implications for the prevention of HIV/STDs will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. discuss the influence of gender, ethnicity, and relationship characteristics on which member of a couple makes decisions regarding sexual and reproductive behaviors; 2. describe the association between decision-making dominance and safer sex behaviors; 3. discuss the level of agreement between members of a couple regarding decision-making dominance.
Keywords: Sexual Behavior, Partner Involvement
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.