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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Concurrent partnering and condom use among rural heterosexual African-American men

JaNelle M. Ricks A D , Angelica Geter B , Richard A. Crosby B and Emma Brown C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

B College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.

C CHARM Inc., Lake City, FL 32025, USA.

D Corresponding author. Email: janelle.ricks@emory.edu

Sexual Health 11(1) 81-83 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH13135
Submitted: 30 August 2013  Accepted: 14 October 2013   Published: 29 November 2013

Abstract

Background: Limited research has targeted HIV risk among heterosexual African-American men in the rural south-eastern United States. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 538 men to assess HIV knowledge, attitudes towards HIV testing and sexual risk behaviour. Results: Fifty-one percent reported consistent condom use in the past 3 months. Monogamous men reported more consistent condom use (t = 3.47, d.f. = 536, P < 0.001). In concurrent partnerships, condom use was inversely related to age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95–0.998, P = 0.03) and increased with the number of female partners (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.26–1.76, P < 0.001). Conclusions: African-American HIV prevention outreach should include focus on concurrent partnering in rural settings.

Additional keywords: heterosexuality, HIV prevention, safer sex, United States.


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