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Psychosocial Constructs Associated with Condom Use Among High-Risk African American Men Newly Diagnosed with a Sexually Transmitted Disease

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

African American men are disproportionately burdened by the US AIDS epidemic.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine associations between condom-related psychosocial constructs and condom use among a sample of young, heterosexual, African American men newly diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.

Methods

This cross-sectional study collected data from 266 men. Predictors included seven scale measures and 12 covariates. Unadjusted odds ratios were estimated followed by multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Nearly one half (47.7%) used condoms at last sex. Five of the psychosocial measures had significant bivariate associations with condom use (p < 0.05). Specific attitudes toward condom use and partner-related barriers retained multivariable significance. Changes of one standard deviation in these measures increased the estimated odds of condom use by 40% (p = 0.021) and 55% (p = 0.002), respectively.

Conclusion

Specific attitudes toward condom use and partner-related barriers may be particularly important constructs to consider when designing behavioral interventions for high-risk, heterosexual, African American men.

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Acknowledgements

Support for this project was provided by a grant from NIMH (R21 MH066682-01A1) to the second author. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Clinic Director (Deborah Snow).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, 121 Washington Ave., Lexington, KY, 40506-0003, USA

    Richard Charnigo Ph.D. & Richard A. Crosby Ph.D.

  2. Louisville Metropolitan Health Department, Louisville, KY, USA

    Adewale Troutman M.D.

Authors
  1. Richard Charnigo Ph.D.
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  2. Richard A. Crosby Ph.D.
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  3. Adewale Troutman M.D.
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Correspondence to Richard A. Crosby Ph.D..

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Charnigo, R., Crosby, R.A. & Troutman, A. Psychosocial Constructs Associated with Condom Use Among High-Risk African American Men Newly Diagnosed with a Sexually Transmitted Disease. ann. behav. med. 39, 303–310 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9184-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9184-6

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