This article utilizes constructs of the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM) to examine condom use in a sample of 215 HIV-infected women in New Jersey. We find evidence that processes affecting condom use in HIV-infected individuals are similar to those found in HIV-negative individuals. Results suggest that partner-related factors are important to consistent condom use in HIV-infected women. Women are more likely to use condoms consistently if they have high perceived power to influence their partner's condom use, have partners who are HIV seronegative, and have partners who do not want more children. Conflicts with the partner decrease the probability of consistent condom use. Also negatively associated with condom use are the woman's use of drugs and/or alcohol and her belief that condoms reduce sexual enjoyment. Implications of these findings for designing interventions for HIV-infected women are considered.
PIP: This study examined the extent to which the major constructs of traditional psychosocial models of preventive health behavior, as articulated in the 3-stage AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM), can help to explain factors motivating preventive behavior and condom use in a sample of 215 HIV-infected women in 3 high HIV-prevalence cities in northern New Jersey, who reported having a primary sexual partner and being aware of their HIV status in the 4 weeks prior to the interview. They were part of a federally funded project recruiting 370 HIV-infected women between 1989 and 1991. 80% were of a minority race, 79% were currently receiving welfare, nearly half did not complete high school, and only 15% were currently married. Only 48% reported using condoms consistently with their primary partner. Results of the multiple regression model showed that women reporting a lot of power with respect to their partner's condom use had odds of consistent condom use 23.5 times higher than women reporting less influence. Women with partners who were HIV positive or of unknown serostatus had odds of consistent condom use that were only 0.29 as high as women with HIV-negative partners. Women reporting that their partners did not want more children were 3.19 times more likely to use condoms consistently than women with partners who wanted children in the future. Women reporting serious arguments with the partner in the previous 6 months had odds of consistent condom use that were only 0.41 as high as women in less conflicted relationships. Women who believed that condoms decreased their sexual pleasure had odds of consistent condom use only 0.33 as high as women expressing more favorable attitudes. Similarly, the use of drugs or alcohol in the previous 4 weeks decreased the odds of consistent condom use by a factor of 0.38. None of the interaction terms tested showed a significant association with condom use.