SELF-EFFICACY TO USE CONDOMS IN UNMARRIED LATINO ADULTS

Measures of self-efficacy to use condoms can clarify the barriers to c ondom use Latinos encounter. A 20-item scale, that differed slightly f or men and women, and was based oil extensive elicitation interviews, was used in a random digit dial household survey of 1,600 unmarried La tino adults in 10 slates with large Latino populations. Self-efficacy was related to condom use for both men and women. Factor analyses reve aled five correlated factors: Regular Partner, Impulse Control, Partne r Resistance, STD Thoughts, and Condom Discussion. Both men and women reported lowest self-efficacy for impulse control and using condoms wi th a regular partner. Less-educated men and women had lower self-effic acy to discuss condoms to manage partner resistance, to use condoms wi th a regular partner, and to control impulses, but were were few other demographic differences in self-efficacy. The scale can be helpful in the design and evaluation of HIV prevention.