Predictors of HIV sexual risk behavior in Hispanic women

Abstract

This study examined a model of cognitive, psychsocial and psychosexual determinants of HIV sexual risk behavior, including condom use, among Hispanic women at heterosexual risk HIV infection. The hypotheses stipulated that decreased mastery, HIV knowledge, and internal AIDS locus of control (LOC) would predict increased HIV sexual risk behavior. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to analyze data collected via structured interviews for 187 Puerto Rican women, ages 18-35, who attended a comprehensive health clinic in the Bronx, New York, and were at risk for heterosexual HIV infection due to their knowledge or suspicion that their primary male sex partner had engaged in extra-relationship sex. Independent measures: HIV knowledge, mastery, AIDS LOC, level of acculturation, hyperfemininity, and erotophobia. Dependent measures: Sexual behavior, including vaginal and anal sex, fellatio and cunnilingus, and condom use with primary and nonprimary sexual partners. The results showed that anal sex with primary and nonprimary partners was reported at 24.1% and 18.2%, respectively. Condom use during anal sex was reported at 31.1% and 66.7%, respectively, with primary and nonprimary partners. HIV sexual risk behavior, including anal sex, was predicted by erotophobia and hyperfemininity for primary partners, and by general mastery and internal AIDS locus of control for nonprimary partners. Condom use with primary partners was predicted by residence with children, co-habitation with a primary partner, employment, and higher levels of education, followed by general mastery, level of acculturation, and hyperfemininity. Condom use with nonprimary partners was predicted by AIDS/HIV internal locus of control. The findings suggested that primary versus nonprimary relationships provided very different contexts for HIV sexual risk behavior, with implications for distinct intervention strategies for at risk populations.