CONDOMS AND CONSEQUENCES - HIV AIDS EDUCATION AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN/

Low income African American mothers of elementary school children in O akland, California, participated in six prevention training sessions t hat fused education about HIV/AIDS with other life-skills and resource s. This exploratory intervention, known as the Healthy Mamas Project, was based on the Theory of Reasoned Action with inclusion of self-effi cacy. Responses to a questionnaire at baseline and at 3-month follow u p show that all women (N=15) entered the training program with, and su stained, a high level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Based on self-repor ts of attitudes and behaviors at the 3-month follow-up, training affec ted only some women beneficially. Overall, 42% of the participants exp ressed increased trust in and resolve to use condoms to reduce the lik elihood of acquiring HIV infection. Differences in demographic charact eristics and sexual practices distinguished women who accepted the edu cational messages about condoms from participants who did not. The int ervention did not sufficiently recognize or address the social context s that informed the beliefs and behaviors of the women In particular, women who were not beneficially influenced by the training prioritized short-term goals (such as establishing a sexual relationship, fulfill ing emotional needs, providing for children) over long-term goals (suc h as avoiding HIV infection).