DETERMINATION OF FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CONDOM USE AMONG WOMEN INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

To better understand potential barriers to condom use and the sexual b ehaviour of women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), an anonymous self-administered survey was performed on a convenience sam ple of 83 predominantly single HIV+ women. Most women had only one sex ual partner who usually knew of the subject's serostatus. Only a minor ity of partners (26%) were known to also be HIV infected. Subjects wer e surprisingly more likely to use condoms with their main partner as o pposed to other partners. Factors found to be associated with condom n on-use included younger age, low education level, partner HIV+, histor y of a sexually transmitted disease (STD), and use of drugs or alcohol during sex. Although most subjects indicated the decision was mutual when deciding not to use a condom, 20% stated it a was a partner decis ion. Future intervention efforts should target these identified high-r isk individuals and optimally involve the partners of HIV-infected wom en.