Conspiracy beliefs about HIV/AIDS and birth control among African Americans: implications for the prevention of HIV, other STIs, and unintended pregnancy.

In this article, we examine the potential role that conspiracy beliefs regarding HIV/AIDS (e.g., "HIV is a manmade virus") and birth control (e.

A conceptual model of women's condom use intentions: Integrating intrapersonal and relationship factors.

We developed and tested a multifaceted model of condom use intentions with cross-sectional data from 435 heterosexual women at risk for HIV/STIs. In addition to traditional intrapersonal variables drawn from established models of HIV prevention (e.g.

Acceptability of an existing, female-controlled contraceptive method that could potentially protect against HIV: a comparison of diaphragm users and other method users.

Objective: The diaphragm, an internal barrier contraceptive device, is a candidate for a female-controlled method for preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study's objective was to examine how women who use the diaphragm differ from women using the pill and/or condoms with respect to factors hypothesized to influence the acceptability of contraceptive methods. Our goal was to increase understanding of who finds the diaphragm acceptable and why.

Acceptability of the vaginal diaphragm among current users.

Context: Interest in the diaphragm has been growing, in part because it is a female-controlled method that might protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A better understanding of diaphragm acceptability is needed.

Methods: In 2001-2002, female members of a managed care organization were interviewed by telephone.

He said, she said: concordance between sexual partners.

Background: Most studies of sexual behavior and risk are based on self-reports of individuals.

Goal: The goal of this study was to assess interpartner concordance on self-reported sexual behavior, condom use, and relationship characteristics; and agreement between individuals' perceptions of their partners' sexual risks and the partners' actual reports.

Study Design: Interviews were conducted separately but concurrently with 112 heterosexual couples at increased risk for HIV/sexually transmitted infections recruited through women at clinics and community locations.

Health-related correlates of perceived discrimination in HIV care.

Negative interactions with health care providers can have important implications for the health and health care of HIV-positive individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of race-based and socioeconomic status (SES)-based discrimination during interactions with HIV treatment providers. We recruited 110 individuals (17% female, 51% white) living with HIV from an AIDS service organization in a midwestern city.

Association of stereotypes about physicians to health care satisfaction, help-seeking behavior, and adherence to treatment.

The present research consists of three studies examining the role of patients' stereotypes about health care providers in the health care decision process. Study 1 examined the association of stereotypes to health care satisfaction and help-seeking behavior among a low-income clinic sample; Study 2 examined the relationship of stereotypes to satisfaction and adherence to treatment among low-income individuals living with HIV; and Study 3 examined the association of stereotypes to satisfaction and help-seeking among a sample of homeless individuals. Overall findings indicate that individuals who held more negative stereotypes about physicians sought care less often when sick, were less satisfied with the care that they did obtain, and were less likely to adhere to physician recommendations for treatment.

Exploring the relationship of conspiracy beliefs about HIV/AIDS to sexual behaviors and attitudes among African-American adults.

Conspiracy beliefs about HIV/AIDS have been endorsed by significant percentages of African Americans in prior research. However, almost no research has investigated the relationship of such beliefs to behaviors and attitudes relevant to HIV risk. In the present exploratory study, 71 African-American adults (aged 18-45; 61% female) in the United States participated in a national, cross-sectional telephone survey examining the relationship of HIV/AIDS conspiracy beliefs to sexual attitudes and behaviors.

Who continues using the diaphragm and who doesn't: implications for the acceptability of female-controlled HIV prevention methods.

Objectives: This study examines the acceptability of the diaphragm with the aim of facilitating the development of female-controlled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention methods. More specifically, we assess associations between being a current (vs. former) diaphragm user and characteristics that are hypothesized to influence the acceptability of contraceptive methods; and explore reasons for discontinuing use of the diaphragm among former diaphragm users.

Sexual decision making and safer sex behavior among young female injection drug users and female partners of IDUs.

Data from interviews with 94 young women who were injection drug users (IDUs) or partners of IDUs were analyzed to examine associations between self-reported sexual decision making and condom use, contraceptive use, and relationship characteristics. Most women (73-85%) reported participating in decisions about condom use, contraception, and when to have sex. Adjusting for potential covariates, respondents who reported participating in decisions about condom use and when to have sex were 7 and 19 times, respectively, more likely than others to report recently using condoms.

Similarities in women's perceptions and acceptability of manual vacuum aspiration and electric vacuum aspiration for first trimester abortion.

This paper examines women's acceptability of and experiences with manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) as compared with electric vacuum aspiration (EVA) for first trimester abortion. Women requesting pregnancy terminations were randomly assigned to either MVA (n = 64) or EVA (n = 63). Participants completed questionnaires before and after their abortions and approximately 2-4 weeks later.

Birth Control Conspiracy Beliefs, Perceived Discrimination, and Contraception among African Americans: An Exploratory Study.

We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey to explore the relationship of birth control conspiracy beliefs and perceived discrimination to contraceptive attitudes and behavior among a sample of African Americans (aged 18-45) in the USA (N = 71). Results indicated that a large percentage of respondents perceived discrimination targeted at African American women and endorsed birth control conspiracy beliefs, and that a significant proportion of female respondents perceived discrimination when getting family planning or contraceptive services. Stronger conspiracy beliefs and greater perceived discrimination were associated with negative attitudes toward contraceptive methods, particularly birth control pills, and with contraceptive behavior and intentions.

Relationship power, sexual decision making and condom use among women at risk for HIV/STDS.

This study examines the associations among relationship power, sexual decision-making dominance, and condom use within a sample of women at risk of HIV/STDs. Data from face-to-face interviews with 112 women were analyzed to (a) describe who women perceive as more powerful and who makes sexual decisions within their heterosexual relationships, (b) explore the association between relationship power and sexual decision-making dominance, and (c) examine the relationship of power and decision making regarding condom use to condom use behavior. Women were recruited from clinics and community locations in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and Portland, OR.