HIV-related concerns and behaviors among Hispanic women.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Hispanic women in the US, especially injecting drug users and partners of infected men, have a disproportionate risk of acquiring the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study focused on two groups of Hispanic women in New York City--45 Dominicans and 61 Puerto Ricans--who knew or suspected that their regular sexual partner was involved with other partners. Respondents were recruited from health clinics and social service agencies in 1992. Respondents had a relationship with their husband/boyfriend of at least one year's duration and no history of intravenous drug use. About half the women were living with their partner. 62% reported worrying "a lot" about HIV, and about half had been tested. 36% of Dominican and 33% of Puerto Rican women's partners used condoms with them; 27% of Dominican respondents and 41% of Puerto Rican women believed their partner used condoms with other partners. Logistic regression revealed that condom use was significantly more frequent among women born in the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico as opposed to the US, women who talked to their partners about being tested for HIV, and those who believed their partner was using condoms with other women. In focus group discussions, women reported they felt more confident negotiating condom use for contraceptive purposes than for disease prevention. They further indicated it was easier to introduce condom use at the start of a sexual relationship.