HIV-INFECTION AND THE MEANING OF CONDOMS

Present day meanings associated with condom use among drug-using women and their long term sexual partners include: loss of male protection; violations of constructions of intimacy, fidelity, conjugal bonding, and female identity; illness; and death. Efforts to change condom use patterns must be based on increased vocational, educational, and socia l opportunities for women. HIV prevention efforts might profit from th e design of safer sex interventions informed by the above meanings; in tensified mass media campaigns; and a re-contextualization of attitude s, behaviors, and beliefs.