Although strategies for decreasing injection drug use have met with moderate success, efforts to decrease high-risk sexual behaviors have been less successful. Because condom use reduces HIV transmission, it is critically important to identify the attitudinal, emotional, and behavioral factors associated with using condoms. This study evaluated the relationship between condom use and various psychological and behavioral variables among heterosexual, African-American, cocaine-dependent men within the context of the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM). Subjects who used condoms (n = 52) reported significantly higher levels of self-efficacy, condom use skills, and sexual communication with partners than non-users (n = 84). However, the groups did not differ in perceived susceptibility, anxiety concerning HIV transmission, response efficacy, or knowledge regarding HIV. These findings suggest that future interventions focus on enhancing self-efficacy and condom use skills, as well as eroticizing condom use.
PIP: While strategies to decrease the prevalence and frequency of injection drug use have proved to be moderately successful, only minimal success has been achieved in getting IV drug users to reduce the amount of high-risk sex they have. It is common among heavy drug users, however, to be promiscuous and exchange sex for drugs and money. Injecting drug users rarely use condoms to reduce their risk of HIV transmission, even though it has been found that more than 70% of AIDS cases among heterosexuals may be attributed to sexual contact with drug users. Since consistent condom use can reduce the risk of HIV transmission, it is extremely important to identify the attitudinal, emotional, and behavioral factors associated with their use. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the relationship between condom use and various psychological and behavioral variables among heterosexual, African-American, cocaine-dependent men within the context of the AIDS Risk Reduction Model. 136 subjects of mean age 35.5 years and an average education of 13.1 years were studied. 112 subjects smoked cocaine and 24 injected it. The 52 subjects who used condoms reported significantly higher levels of self-efficacy, condom use skills, and sexual communication with partners than the 84 non-users. The groups did not, however, differ in perceived susceptibility, anxiety concerning HIV transmission, response efficacy, or knowledge regarding HIV. Study findings suggest that future interventions focus on enhancing self-efficacy and condom use skills, as well as eroticizing condom use.