International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 19, Number 11 > Pp. 768-771

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Original research articles

Condom use among high-risk heterosexual women with concurrent sexual partnerships, Houston, Texas, USA

J E Richards MSPH ^* , J M Risser PhD ^*, P M Padgett PhD ^*, H U Rehman MD , M L Wolverton MPH  and R R Arafat MD 

^* Division of Epidemiology and Disease Control, University of Texas School of Public Health; City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston, TX, USA

Correspondence to: Jane E Richards, 1200 Herman Pressler Dr RAS W308 Houston, TX 77030, USA Email: jane.e.richards{at}uth.tmc.edu

Concurrent sexual partnerships allow for enhanced transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condom use dynamics in this context may be an important factor for transmission of HIV. We conducted a cross-sectional study to describe the frequency of concurrency among high-risk heterosexual women in Houston, Texas and determine the factors associated with condom use. A total of 553 participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling and completed an anonymous questionnaire; 256 (49%) were identified as having a concurrent partnership. The prevalence of condom use at last sexual encounter was 26%. Women were significantly more likely to use condoms if their sexual encounter was with a casual partner and if alcohol and/or drugs were not used. The high prevalence of concurrent partnerships suggests the presence of a dense sexual network which may enable the rapid spread of STIs and HIV. The risk of transmission may be additionally increased due to the low prevalence of condom use.

Key Words: HIV • concurrency • condoms • heterosexuals

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