SAFER SEX KNOWLEDGE, BEHAVIOR, AND ATTITUDES OF INNER-CITY WOMEN

Sexual behavior, knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention, perceiv ed risk of AIDS, and safer sex behavior were studied in a sample of 28 9 single, pregnant. inner-city women. African-American and European-Am erican women were equally represented. Women had poor AIDS knowledge. Sexual behavior placed women at risk for HIV infection due to the lack of condom or spermicide use. Women did not perceive themselves at ris k for the AIDS virus, although they did recognize that heterosexuals w ere at risk. Their lack of risk perception was partly based on their h aving a single sexual partner. They did not regard their partner's cur rent or past behavior as placing them at risk. Recommendations for int ervention and cultural differences were discussed.