"Condoms are the Standard, Right?": Exploratory Study of the Reasons for Using Condoms by Black American Emerging Adult Women

Condoms are considered a highly effective form of STI prevention for heterosexual sex. Black American women (BAW) have been and are at elevated risk for heterosexual exposure to HIV because they have been and continue to be less likely to negotiate condom use with a partner that supports them financially. However, BAW who have made tremendous educational gains may still encounter challenges regarding the distribution of power that can affect condom use and negotiation. 

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the reasons that highly educated, emerging, adult BAW reported for using condoms. One hundred twenty-seven emerging adult BAW (ages 18-29 years) completed a mixed-methods online survey during the spring of 2013 (January-May). Approximately 80% of the women were in college or college graduates. They had a high rate of previous HIV testing (68.5%). Through the use of an interpretive paradigm and grounded theory, three themes emerged regarding the reasons that the participants in this sample used condoms as their primary form of protection: (a) The Reliable "Standard" (b) Pregnancy Prevention, and (c) Cost Effective and "Easily Accessible." 

Via: http://ht.ly/RRJT7

By: Longmire-Avital B1, Oberle V.

• 1a Psychology Department , Elon University , Elon , North Carolina , USA.