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Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
. 2007 Dec;99(12):1395–1401.

Urban African-American males' perceptions of condom use, gender and power, and HIV/STD prevention program.

Stephen B Kennedy 1, Sherry Nolen 1, Jeffrey Applewhite 1, Elizabeth Waiter 1
PMCID: PMC2267746  NIHMSID: NIHMS35347  PMID: 18229776

Abstract

The overall goal of the research project was to develop, administer and assess a brief male-focused condom promotion program for inner-city young adult African-American males. To achieve that goal, we conducted a formative study consisting of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. For the qualitative component, which was guided by the relevant tenets of the social cognitive theory and the stages of change model, a series of focus group discussions was conducted among the target population based upon a thematic topic guide that covered three broad areas: young men's perceptions of condom use relative to pregnancy and HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention, gender-based issues surrounding condom use, and potential guidelines for the development of customized condom promotion programs. Those focus group discussions were audiotaped and the transcribed data summarized and analyzed based on those thematic topics. The findings revealed that respondents were more likely to assume that they know the risk behaviors of their sexual partners, more likely to consider pregnancy as a socially desirable outcome, more likely to control condom use within relationship dynamics and sexual contexts, and also more likely to provide suggestions on suitable components for program development. The implications and limitations of those findings from this qualitative component of the project are herein described, including potential recommendations for program development.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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