Document 2810
 DOCN  M94A2810
 TI    Does counselling help to empower women to negotiate for safer sex.
 DT    9412
 AU    Chanda C; Baggaley R; Phiri M; Kelly M; London School of Hygiene and
       Tropical Medicine.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):22 (abstract no. 063D). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369765
 AB    OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess behaviour change and barriers to behaviour
       change in women receiving voluntary HIV counselling and testing (c&t).
       METHOD: A cohort of 152 women attending for HIV c&t were interviewed at
       the time of pre-test counselling. They were asked why they wanted to
       have a test, what behavioural strategies they would follow if they were
       found to be positive or negative. They were interviewed again at the
       time of post test and at 3-6 months following this. They were asked at
       this stage what they were doing and what barriers there were to changing
       their behaviour. RESULTS: At pre-test 16% of women had more than 1
       sexual partner, but only 3% wanted a test because they were worried
       about their own sexual behaviour. 21% wanted a test because of worries
       about their partner's sexual behaviour. Women with negative results
       chose condom use (29%) and abstinence until they met the right person
       (24%) as preferred strategies. Women with positive results opted for
       monogamy (58%) and condom use (32%). 17% of women bought condoms at the
       time of post test counselling. At 3-6 month follow up both women with
       positive and negative results expressed difficulties in insisting on
       condom use. Some women in non-steady relationships said they had chosen
       to abstain from sex because of a partner's refusal to use condoms and
       this had lead to the break up of the relationship. They felt they would
       not have sex without a condom even if this decision deprived them of an
       intimate relationship. Women in stable relationships also expressed
       difficulties in persuading partners to practice safer sex and often felt
       vulnerable because of their partner's lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS: HIV c&t
       raises women's awareness about HIV and safer sex practices. Some women
       were able to insist on condom use, however many women are often unable
       to negotiate safer sex with their partners both steady and non-steady
       because of cultural factors and financial dependence. Many women needed
       continuing support from their counsellor to help them cope with and find
       solutions to these barriers.
 DE    Adult  AIDS Serodiagnosis/*PSYCHOLOGY  Condoms/UTILIZATION  *Counseling
       Female  Health Education  Human  HIV Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL
       Male  Sex Behavior  Sex Education  Zambia  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).