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Condom Attitudes and Behaviors Among Injection Drug Users Participating in California Syringe Exchange Programs

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This study examined condom attitudes, preferences, barriers, and use among a sample of 550 injection drug using clients of syringe exchange programs in California. In multivariate analyses, positive attitudes toward condoms were significantly associated with consistent condom use for vaginal, anal, and oral sex in the past six months, beyond the effects of confounding socio-demographic and HIV risk variables. Participants commonly cited partner-related barriers to condom use, such as reluctance to use condoms with steady partners (34%). Almost a quarter of the sample cited dislike of condoms (e.g., because of pleasure reduction). In addition, a third of respondents stated specific preferences regarding condom brands, sensitivity, sizes, and textures. Interventions that increase awareness about positive aspects of condom use and sexual risk from steady partners may be successful in increasing condom use among injection drug users.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for funding the California Syringe Exchange Program Study (Grant #RO6/CCR918667). The authors also thank Christopher Buck and Kathryn Anderson in Santa Monica and Lynell Clancy in Sacramento. The project is indebted to the syringe exchange programs in California that agreed to participate and refer their clients to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Program, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, USA

    Laura M. Bogart, Mary Lou Gilbert & Ricky N. Bluthenthal

  2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Urban Health Studies, UC, San Francisco, USA

    Alex H. Kral & Andrea Scott

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, UC, Davis, USA

    Rachel Anderson & Neil Flynn

  4. Drew Center on AIDS Research, Education, and Services, Department of Psychiatry, Charls R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ricky N. Bluthenthal

  5. Health Program, RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, California, 90407-2318, USA

    Laura M. Bogart

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  1. Laura M. Bogart
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Correspondence to Laura M. Bogart.

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Bogart, L.M., Kral, A.H., Scott, A. et al. Condom Attitudes and Behaviors Among Injection Drug Users Participating in California Syringe Exchange Programs. AIDS Behav 9, 423–432 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-005-9014-1

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