Safer Sex Self-Efficacy Among Women With Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors that increase the likelihood of adverse sexual health outcomes, including HIV acquisition. This study explored key predictors of safer sex self-efficacy in a sample of racially/ethnically diverse abused women. A total of 173 women were recruited from domestic violence agencies and completed a battery of measures that assessed risk factors associated with HIV risk. Both individual- and relationship-level predictors of safer sex self-efficacy were examined, including IPV, partner dependence, HIV knowledge, condom attitudes, self-esteem, and alcohol use. Hierarchical linear regression analysis results indicated several key predictors for safer sex self-efficacy, including IPV (B = -0.01, p < .05), partner dependence (B = -0.45, p < .001), condom attitudes (B = 0.63, p < .001), and alcohol use (B = - 0.24, p < .05). It is evident that a number of individual- and relationship-level factors affect the degree of safer sex self-efficacy among abused women. In work with this population, researchers and clinicians should intentionally attend to the identified predictors to most effectively address the needs of these women.

Keywords: HIV; condom use; intimate partner violence; sexual and reproductive health; women’s health.