GENDER, CULTURE, AND POWER - BARRIERS TO HIV-PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN

The rapid increase of HIV infection among women in the U.S. has been a ttributed primarily to sexual contact with HIV-infected men. Strong cu ltural gender norms regarding sexual behaviors among Latinos exacerbat es this risk for Latino women. In this study we assessed contraceptive use patterns and predictors of condom use with steady male partners a mong a random sample of 513 Latino and 184 non-Latino White women (N = 697). The women were assessed for ethnic differences in sexual behavi ors and psychosocial variables using t-tests. We used multiple regress ion analysis to assess predictors of condom use with steady male partn ers for all women. Although Latino and non-Latino White women differed significantly on most psychosocial factors, predictors of condom use were the same for the two groups: positive attitude about condom use, not using other forms of contraception, belief that friends use condom s, self-efficacy to use condoms, more sexual pourer (i.e., less concer n that the male partner would become angry or violent at condom use re quest), worry about contracting HIV, and reporting two or more partner s in the year prior to the interview. Non-Latino White women had bette r knowledge about HIV, more sexual comfort, more self-efficacy in usin g condoms, and more sexual pourer than. did Latino women. To be safe f rom HIV infection, heterosexual women must rely not only on their own skill, attitude, and efficacy concerning sexual behaviors and condom u se, but also on their ability to convince their sexual partner to use a condom. HIV-prevention strategies must target heterosexual couples a nd address gender norms in sexual behavior decision making, regardless of a person's ethnicity.