A little thing called love: condom use in high-risk primary heterosexual relationships. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2009 Dec;41(4):218-24
Date
05/07/2010Pubmed ID
20444176Pubmed Central ID
PMC2896263DOI
10.1363/4121809Scopus ID
2-s2.0-71749108128 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 111 CitationsAbstract
CONTEXT: Condoms are less likely to be used in primary relationships than in other relationship types. An understanding of what women and men expect when entering into these relationships, as well as how they make decisions about condom use and other prevention behaviors, is essential to efforts to curb the spread of HIV.
METHODS: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 high-risk heterosexual couples, including HIV-serodiscordant couples, participating in a trial of the female condom in Hartford in 2004-2007. Data were coded and analyzed in an iterative inductive and deductive process.
RESULTS: Participants described nonuse of condoms as a strategy to fi nd and maintain a primary relationship, establish trust and increase intimacy. Many had unprotected intercourse while recognizing their risk of HIV and other STDs, placing their love for their partner and other emotional needs over concerns about their health. Several couples reduced their STD risk by practicing negotiated safety (i.e., using condoms until their serostatus had been determined) or similar strategies, including sharing sexual or drug use history, disclosing HIV test results and using condoms until they decided that their relationship would be monogamous.
CONCLUSIONS: HIV prevention approaches must recognize the importance of love and the needs that primary relationships satisfy if they are to be considered relevant by those at greatest risk. Negotiated safety and similar strategies may be an important risk reduction tool for heterosexuals, particularly those in HIV-affected relationships, but their potential effectiveness may vary.
Author List
Corbett AM, Dickson-Gómez J, Hilario H, Weeks MRAuthor
Julia Dickson-Gomez PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultCondoms, Female
Connecticut
Female
HIV Infections
Heterosexuality
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Love
Male
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
