These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Safe sex and women.
    Author: Sherr L, Strong C.
    Journal: Genitourin Med; 1992 Feb; 68(1):32-5. PubMed ID: 1548009.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Sexual behaviour, condom use, HIV knowledge and anxiety for women were examined to understand the range of sexual behaviours, predictors of safer sex and the extent of relapse. DESIGN: A cross sectional sample of women STD clinic attenders completed interviews and questionnaires. SETTING: Central London STD Clinic. SUBJECTS: 153 women drawn from consecutive attenders at a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in inner London. RESULTS: A quarter of the sample had never responded to safe sex and a further 14% had been unable to maintain it over time. Anxiety and knowledge did not differ between safe and relapsed groups, but self efficacy and cognitive variables did. Those who maintained safe sex had significantly less sex. Ten percent of the sample had unprotected anal intercourse. Most women saw themselves in longer term relationships, yet a quarter had sex outside of the relationship and a fifth stated that their partners also did. HIV information gathering was passive and 74% felt they could not protect themselves against infection. High concern over HIV was monitored. Condom uptake was low and non-existent for anal intercourse. 25% had undergone HIV testing. These women did not differ significantly in terms of their behaviour from the untested women. CONCLUSIONS: HIV risks for women are a source of anxiety and tailored intervention is needed to reduce risk and promote dialogue and negotiation. Sexual behavior, condom use, HIV knowledge, and anxiety in women were examined in order to understand the range of sexual behaviors, predictors of safer sex, and the extent of relapse. 153 women drawn from a pool of consecutive attenders at the Central London STD Clinic participated in this cross-sectional sample through interviews and questionnaires. 1/4 of the sample did not respond to safe sex and an additional 14% were unable to maintain it over time. Anxiety and knowledge did not differ between the safe and relapsed groups, but self-efficacy and cognitive variables did. Those who maintained safe sex had significantly less sex. 10% of the sample had unprotected anal intercourse. Most of the women were involved in longer term relationships; however 1/4 had sex outside of the relationship and 1/5 stated that their partners also did. HIV information gathering was passive and 74% felt they could not protect themselves against infection. High concern over HIV was monitored. Condom uptake was low for most of the participants and nonexistent for those who indulged in anal intercourse. 25% participated in HIV testing and these women did not differ significantly in terms of their behavior from those women who went untested. HIV risks for women are a source of anxiety and tailored intervention is necessary to reduce risk and promote dialogue and negotiation.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]