The Sexual Experiences of Heterosexual Men at Post-Incarceration: Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behaviors

An examination of the sexual attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors post-incarceration was conducted in the current study. Further, factors linked to sexual health (i.e., age, race, education, length imprisoned), as well as pornography consumption, and infidelity, were examined. Data were collected from 100 heterosexual men released from incarceration in the last 36 months. The prevalence of risky sexual behaviors and correlations among all sexual behavior, attitude, and knowledge items were analyzed. A series of multivariate regression models examined the moderating effect of certain demographic factors between condom use and STI/HIV testing. The most notable results revealed that a vast majority of participants engaged in inconsistent condom use during vaginal (77%), oral (92%), and anal (71%) sex. Most participants (70%) tested for STIs infrequently after engaging in unprotected sex. Consistent with this, most participants lacked knowledge about STIs, as demonstrated by the fact that, on average, they answered 37% of questions assessing knowledge on STIs correctly. Research about individuals' sexual health risks post-incarceration commonly focuses on those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS despite most men being HIV-seronegative post-incarceration. Empirical research that directly assesses men's sexual attitudes, knowledge and behaviors post-incarceration more generally is warranted and, therefore, the current study's primary objective. Further, little but existing literature contends that a lack of sexual health knowledge and education are closely linked to safe sex practices post-incarceration. The current study examined these relationships further.