Sexual Relationship Power, Intimate Partner Violence, and Condom Use Among Minority Urban Girls

Abstract

This study examined the association between sexual relationship power, intimate partner violence, and condom use among African American and Hispanic urban girls. In this sample of 56 sexually active girls, 50% did not use condoms consistently and therefore were at higher risk for acquiring HIV or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Teens who experienced more intimate partner violence had a significantly higher likelihood of inconsistent condom use and therefore a greater risk for HIV/STDs. Girls' sense of sexual control in their relationships was not directly associated with inconsistent condom use but was inversely related to verbal and emotional abuse. Interventions aimed at reducing HIV/STD risk for adolescent girls need to address patterns of dominance and control in adolescent relationships as well as multiple forms of partner violence. This suggests the need for multilevel intervention approaches that promote girls' agency and multiple ways to keep girls safe from perpetrators of partner abuse. Keywordsadolescents; prevention; condom use; partner abuse; relationship power; intimate partner violence Adolescent girls are at increasing risk for acquiring HIV through heterosexual transmission, and African American and Hispanic girls are disproportionately affected (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2006a). Multiple factors make up HIV risk for adolescent girls. One important factor is condom use practices. Between 38% and 50% of Black and Hispanic female high school students who were sexually active reported condom nonuse at last sex; older students reported less condom use ((CDC, 2006b). Although many individual-level predictors of adolescent condom use have been identified, it is also important to consider partner relationship factors that influence condom use negotiations (Wingood & DiClemente, 2000). In particular, there is a growing concern about the effect of gender-based violence and relationship power imbalances on the safer sex negotiations of women and adolescent girls (Amaro & Raj, 2000;Gutierrez, Oh, & Gillmore, 2000;Marin, 2003;Pulerwitz, Gortmaker, & Jong, 2000;Wingood & DiClemente, 2000 & Shain, 1998;Davila & Brackley, 1999). In particular, such violence often occurs as part of a pattern of coercive control involving power differentials in the relationship (Johnson, 2006). Among sexually active adolescent girls, such power differentials could place them at a disadvantage in the context of condom use negotiations (Gutierrez et al., 2000;Wingood & DiClemente, 2000). Therefore, in addition to assessing for acts of partner violence, we also examined the level of partner control in the relationship. Intimate Partner ViolenceIPV includes actual or threatened physical or sexual violence or psychological and emotional abuse directed toward a current or former dating partner, girlfriend or boyfriend, or spouse (Saltzman, Fanslow, McMahon, & Shelley, 1999;Wolfe et al., 2001). The term violence usually refers to specific acts, whereas partner abuse usually connotes attempts to dom...

Adolescent Relationship Violence in Brazil and Honduras

“…Furthermore, research suggests "bargaining assertively is construed as congruent with female gender roles in some contexts" (Amanatullah & Morris, 2010: 256). Research has explored the role of female sexual assertiveness in sexual and reproductive health and the likelihood of sexual victimization (Teitelman et al, 2008;Testa et al, 2007;Rickert et al, 2002), but the extent to which it serves as a protective factor for adolescent IPV is less explored.…”

Using Participatory Research to Work With Women from Ethnic Minorities at Risk for HIV Living In Industrialized Countries

“…At this point, consistent and correct use of the male condom is the most widely accepted method to prevent HIV transmission among sexually active individuals. However, compared to their Caucasian counterparts, WACB do not consistently use condoms [4][5][6][7][8][9][10], as they tend to have difficulty negotiating its use [10][11][12]. The growing number of cases in these populations suggests that current preventive interventions involving condom promotion are insufficient [13].…”

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Predictors of Dating Violence Victimization in Out-of-school Female Adolescents

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