RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD CHOICE AND BELIEFS ABOUT HIV AND PREGNANCY PREVENTION

Background and Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the r elationship between contraceptive method choice and perceptions of HIV and pregnancy risk among women at risk of HIV infection and transmiss ion. Study Design: Women who were infected with HIV or who were at hig h risk of infection were administered a questionnaire assessing sexual and drug-related HIV risk behaviors and beliefs, Si;D and pregnancy h istory, and intentions, beliefs and behaviors regarding pregnancy, chi ldbearing and contraception. Results: Among women who reported using a contraceptive method every time they had intercourse, 43% used condom s only, 22% used birth control pills only, and 11% used both. Only 58% of consistent condom users believed they were very unlikely to become infected with HIV in the next year. Controlling for risk factor diffe rences, pill-only users were less likely to believe themselves at risk of HIV infection, and more confident in their ability to prevent HIV infection, compared with condom-only users. Conclusion: Results sugges t that women's beliefs about the effectiveness of a method for pregnan cy prevention may generalize to beliefs about the efficacy of the meth od for disease prevention.