ACCULTURATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SEXUAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS - HISPANIC VS NON-HISPANIC WHITE UNMARRIED ADULTS

Understanding how acculturation and gender affect Hispanics' sexual be havior is needed to prevent infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. We examined differences in and correlates of condom use among 3 98 Hispanics and 540 non-Hispanic Whites in San Francisco who were par t of a random probability sample of unmarried adults. Hispanic women r eported fewer sexual partners than all other groups. Condom use was lo w in all groups, but Spanish-speaking Hispanic women reported lower co ndom use than White women. Hispanics, generally, had poorer attitudes toward condoms and were less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to believ e they could avoid acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Hispanics need targeted prevention interventions.