Reproductive and contraceptive attitudes as predictors of condom use amongwomen in an HIV prevention intervention

This study prospectively evaluates the effect of childbearing motivation an d contraceptive attitudes on consistency of condom use among at-risk women enrolled in an HIV prevention intervention. Women (age 15-40, 85% African-A merican) were recruited from homeless shelters, drug treatment facilities, and public housing developments and assigned to standard or enhanced interv ention conditions. Among the eligible study group of nonsterilized women wi th a main partner (n = 312), 24.4% wanted to have a baby at baseline; 43.5% believed their partner wanted them to have a baby. Women who reported a de sire for a baby, compared to all others, were less likely to be at a higher level of condom consistency six months later (OR = 0.66; .48-90). Women wh o perceived partner support contraceptive use showed a higher level ofcondo m consistency (OR = 1.20; 1.03-1.41) at 6-month follow-up, Many women in th is study wanted to have a baby and this desire interfered with subsequent c onsistency of condom use. We also found that condom use increased toward co nsistency of use among women whose partner supported contraceptive use, HIV prevention interventions should include screening for reproductive motivat ion, so that prevention messages can be tailored to the realities of women' s lives. Women who want a baby can be educated about disease prevention in the context of pregnancy planning and linked with appropriate services. Wom en who want to avoid childbearing can be given messages that emphasize the contraceptive benefits of condom use and that help strengthen partner suppo rt. (C) 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.