Heterosexual women are at increasing risk for HIV, but many are unable to engage in effective safer sex negotiation. The current study examined perceptions of safer sex negotiation using a focus group methodology. Participants were twenty high-risk HIV- and HIV+ women. Participants found it difficult to negotiate safer sex with a relationship partner, because of an inability to see partners they love and trust as risky. Also, although participants perceived condom use to be a personal choice, they believed that few use condoms consistently. Moreover, HIV- women held negative attitudes toward condoms that probably decrease use, whereas HIV+ women had concerns regarding disclosure of status. Clearly, women need safer sex negotiation skills to support the personal choice to use condoms.
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