"Here's what I'd do...": condom promotion strategies proposed by high-risk women in Anchorage, Alaska
Fenaughty, A.M.; Namyniuk, L.
Qualitative Health Research 14(1): 23-38
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1049-7323 PMID: 14725174 DOI: 10.1177/1049732303259803Document Number: 237988
Women drug users are at significant risk of sexually transmitted HIV; however, interventions aimed at increasing condom use by this population have been relatively ineffective. The authors conducted a series of focus groups with 17 current and former drug-using women to identify (a) reasons for using versus not using condoms, (b) intervention strategies they believed would be most effective at increasing condom use, and (c) previous ineffective intervention strategies. Risk of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy was the main reason given for using condoms. Many factors were identified that limited condom use, including lack of availability, substance use, and cost. Participants enthusiastically endorsed condom availability and AIDS awareness interventions, and suggested that no intervention was a waste of money. The authors discuss the limitations of the suggested interventions and recommend additional research to evaluate the efficacy of these strategies.