Determinants of HIV risk reduction behaviors among female partners of men with hemophilia and HIV infection

Determinants of safer sexual behaviors (abstinence or consistent condom use) among female partners of HIV-infected adult men with hemophilia were examined. A model was proposed predicting that emotional adjustment, communication skills, self-efficacy, and perceived advantages of condom use would influence the practice of safer sexual behaviors. Confidential surveys were completed by 119 seronegative female partners of men with hemophilia and HIV infection who received care from one of 27 hemophilia treatment centers across the United States. The proposed model was tested using LISREL, and the model explained 40% of the variance in safer sexual behaviors. Emotional adjustment was a significant predictor of both intimate and emotional communication skills. Intimate and emotional communication skills were related to self-efficacy for communicating about safer sex, which in turn influenced both communication about safer sex and perceived advantages of condom use. Communication about safer sex with a partner and perceived advantages of condom use had direct effects on safer sexual behaviors. HIV prevention interventions with women known to have seropositive partners should be multifaceted. Skill-building interventions emphasizing communication skills, increasing self-efficacy for communication about safer sex with a partner, and promoting positive attitudes about safer sex should be considered.