A pilot intervention to promote safer sex in heterosexual Puerto Rican couples.

Abstract

Although the sexual transmission of HIV occurs in the context of an intimate relationship, preventive interventions with couples are scarce, particularly those designed for Hispanics. In this article, we present the effect of a pilot intervention directed to prevent HIV/AIDS in heterosexual couples in Puerto Rico. The intervention was theory-based and consisted of five three-hour group sessions. Primary goals included increasing male condom use and the practice of mutual masturbation as a safer sex method, and promoting favorable attitudes toward these behaviors. Twenty-six couples participated in this study. Fifteen were randomly assigned to the intervention group and eleven to a control group. Retention rates at post-intervention and follow-up were 82% for the whole sample. Results showed that there was a significant increase in the use of male condoms with main partners in the intervention group when compared with the control group. Couples in the intervention group also had better scores on secondary outcomes, such as attitudes toward condom use and mutual masturbation, HIV information, sexual decision-making, and social support. We found that these effects persisted over the three month follow up. A significant effect was also observed for the practice of mutual masturbation, but not for sexual negotiation. These results showed that promoting male condom use in dyadic interventions among heterosexual couples in Puerto Rico is feasible. Our findings suggest that because vaginal penetration has been constructed as the sexual script endpoint among many Hispanic couples, promoting other non-penetrative practices, such as mutual masturbation, may be difficult.

The State of Sex Research in MFT and Family Studies Literature: A Seventeen‐Year Content Analysis

“…Sexual Education ‐ Helping families understand the importance of parental involvement and shared decision‐making in relationships for sexual risk reduction in young women (Kogan, Simons, Chen, Burwell, & Brody, ). ‐ The success of sexual risk reduction interventions may be attenuated by sexual traumas histories and comorbid mental health issues. (Wyatt, Loeb, Williams, Zhang, & Davis, ). ‐ Promoting condom use and mutual masturbation as a safe sex practice was effective in increasing condom use in Peurto Rico (Pérez‐Jiménez, Seal, & Ronis, ). …”

“…-Promoting condom use and mutual masturbation as a safe sex practice was effective in increasing condom use in Peurto Rico (P erez-Jim enez, Seal, & Ronis, 2014). from culture to culture, it is important for clinicians to be knowledgeable in how to navigate conversations about sexuality.…”

The role of couple dynamics in contraception decision-making.

“…Contraception decisions in the context of romantic, heterosexual relationships have largely been assessed from investigating HIV/AIDS prevention in other countries (Pérez-Jiménez et al, 2014). The limited research on couples and contraception (not HIV/AIDS related) suggests a patriarchal presence in the literature that negates the importance of power and choice for women when it comes to contraception (i.e., female health, pregnancy prevention).…”

Sexual Relationship Power and Safe Sex Communication Among Partnered Women in the Dominican Republic

“…Finally, few STI/HIV prevention interventions that include components to increase safe sex communication have been tested with Latina women in stable relationships. Those that have been tested with Latina women resulted in mixed levels of effectiveness (Cianelli et al, 2012;Gause, Brown, Welge, & Northern, 2018;Peragallo, Gonzalez-Guarda, McCabe, & Cianelli, 2012;Pérez-Jiménez, Seal, & Ronis, 2014;Sanchez et al, 2016). Based on findings from this study, nurse researchers who plan to develop and test HIV/STI prevention interventions for Dominican women should consider incorporating activities that build capacity in safe sex communication, economic power, and self-efficacy.…”