Faculty Collaboration Database

Text messaging for sexual communication and safety among African American young adults. Qual Health Res 2013 Oct;23(10):1344-53

Date

09/21/2013

Pubmed ID

24045286

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4162479

DOI

10.1177/1049732313505712

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84885101246 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

African American young adults are at high risk of HIV infection during their lifetimes, and the male condom remains the best method of prevention. Efforts to increase condom use should address the barrier of condom negotiation. We conducted a thematic analysis of qualitative, semistructured interviews with African American young adults to examine their use of text messaging for requesting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and condom use within the larger context of general sexual communication using text messages. Text messaging gave participants a level of comfort and disinhibition to discuss sexual topics and negotiate sexual safety. Benefits of text messages included ease of communication, privacy, and increased ability to express condom desires. Difficulties reflected the potential relationship implications of suggesting HIV/STI testing and condom use. Condom negotiation strategies using text messages also mirrored those found to be used in face-to-face communication.

Author List

Broaddus MR, Dickson-Gomez J

Authors

Michelle R. Broaddus PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Julia Dickson-Gomez PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Communication
Condoms
Female
HIV Infections
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Safe Sex
Sexual Behavior
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Text Messaging
Young Adult