 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar, PhD1, Samuel Posner, PhD2, and Alfred Poindexter, MD1. (1) OB/GYN, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, (713)798-8057, halehs@bcm.tmc.edu, (2) CDC, CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA
Objectives: To examine predictors of planned condom use among women employing Depo-Provera (DMPA) or oral contraceptives (OC). Methods: A total of 600 new users of DMPA (N=400) or OC (N=200) were surveyed in a longitudinal study of condom use. Results: Of women who were using condoms before starting on DMPA or OC (N=307), 19% had no plans to use them in the future. Thus, 9% of the total sample experienced an increased risk for exposure to various STDs. Condom abandonment was higher among women in monogamous relationships than those in non-monogamous relations (11% vs. 6%, p=.05). Overall, 45% of the sample planned to use condoms; this rate was lower among DMPA than OC users (42% vs. 53%, p<.01). Planned condom use was associated with younger age (<20), black ethnicity, being un-married, and lower parity. In multivariate analysis, significant barriers to condom use were: attributes of condom (e.g., interruption of sex act, reduction in pleasurable sensations, messiness, difficulty of use), partner/relationship influences (e.g., partner unfavorable perceptions about condom, partner aware of the woman's DMPA/OC use, long-term relationship), and situational influences (e.g., use of alcohol during sex). History of STD, confidence in condoms to prevent disease, perceived susceptibility to disease, and fear of abuse were unrelated to future use. Conclusion: Women at higher risk for disease are more likely than others to use condoms. As condom use remains the primary means for containing the spread of HIV epidemic, results of this study are important for designing tailored intervention programs.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Contraception, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.