Urban women's negotiation strategies for safer sex with their male partners

Heterosexual transmission of HIV is growing at an increasing rate. One prim ary prevention strategy is to consistently use condoms. With the exception of female condoms, women do not "wear" condoms and therefore must negotiate condom use with their male partners. This present study examines the strat egies women believe they would use in a safer sex negotiation with a male p artner including (1) initiating negotiations, (2) resolving conflict, and ( 3) maintaining the intention to practice safer sex. The findings highlight the importance of understanding women's patterns of negotiation as well as their repertoire of negotiation skills prior to their exposure to behaviora l interventions and prevention programs. (C) 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc . All rights reserved.