REDUCING THE RISK OF HIV-INFECTION FOR WOMEN - AN ATTITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF CONDOM-CARRYING BEHAVIOR

A study of 971 sexually active, heterosexual nonpregnant women was und ertaken in an HIV-endemic community in the New York City area to deter mine the psychological correlates of carrying condoms. Analyses sugges ted that women factor concerns about negative social reactions from so ciety in general most heavily in their attitude toward carrying condom s, followed by their overall attitude toward condoms, and concerns abo ut the increase in preventive efficacy resulting from carrying condoms . This brief structure was generalized across risk groups. Interventio n implications of these results are discussed.