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Lack of condom use by married or cohabiting couples in populations with high rates of HIV infection has become a significant public health issue. This study investigated whether an HIV risk-reduction intervention (RRI) would increase condom use when delivered to serodiscordant couples as a unit. Of the 62 couples that were screened, 30 serodiscordant couples were enrolled in the study, and randomized 2:1 to an immediate intervention-waitlist control study. The 12-week intervention focused on communication, problem-solving, and negotiation skills. Participants were assessed at baseline, three and six months after the intervention. The main outcome measures were consistent condom use, HIV seroconversion and fidelity to the programme. The use of condoms increased for both the intervention and control groups after receiving a 12-week RRI. Group comparisons showed a significant difference at three months, with a significantly higher mean proportion of condom-protected sex acts (p = 0.0119) between the control and intervention groups, the later showing an increase in condom use. No seroconversion was detected, and the overall retention rate of participants was 83.33%. Counselling heterosexual couples as a unit prompted an increase in condom use, but sustained condom use remains a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study examines predictors of neuropsychological (NP) performance in a community sample of 237 HIV seropositive and seronegative women. Consistent with literature describing the NP sequelae of HIV infection in men, we expected that HIV status would predict poorer NP performance on tests assessing verbal memory, psychomotor speed and motor speed. Multiple regression analyses testing the association between HIV serostatus and NP performance and controlling for predictors including age, ethnicity, education, psychological distress, and drug and alcohol use indicated that HIV serostatus was associated with slowed psychomotor speed. Specifically, AIDS diagnosis and HIV seropositivity predicted poorer performance on tests of psychomotor speed relative to HIV seronegatives. Contrary to expectations, no relationship between HIV serostatus and either motor speed or verbal memory performance emerged. Education, ethnicity, depressive distress, recent exposure to drugs as indexed by toxicology, and alcohol use were also associated with NP performance. Given that the HIV seropositive and seronegative samples differed on a number of demographic and drug use variables, a second series of analyses examining a subset of participants (matched on all key demographic factors) and with no illicit drug use during the past year was also conducted. Results of these analyses were similar to those obtained for the full sample, with AIDS diagnosis and HIV seropositivity predicting psychomotor slowing. To date, little work describing the NP sequelae of HIV infection in women has been conducted. This study provides one of the first descriptions of the NP effects of HIV/AIDS in a largely non-injection drug using community sample of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides sex and marital therapists with detailed, multifaceted descriptions of sexuality after breast cancer based on survey responses from 863 breast cancer survivors. One third of women reported that breast cancer had had a negative impact on her sex life, and most reported negative changes in at least some areas. Nonetheless, breast cancer survivors did not differ from age-matched, healthy women on a standard measure of sexuality. Women who were most likely to report a negative impact on sexuality from cancer were those who had experienced changes in hormonal status, problems in their relationships, and difficulties with vaginal dryness. On the basis of these findings, we offer suggestions for health professionals and therapists treating breast cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the demographic characteristics of private physicians and the prevalence of abortions performed in their offices in Los Angeles County, California. Factors influencing physicians' decisions to provide service; Demographic characteristics of women who obtained office abortions.

The Survey of Afro-American Behavior (S.A.A.B.) is a scale devised for specific use with mental health professionals to assess the affective and cognitive components of attitudes toward positive (favorable), negative (unfavorable), factual and stereotypic statements regarding Afro-American behavior in seven areas, two of which are examined in this paper: 1) family life patterns and marital relationships, and 2) sexual values and behavior. Significant differences on the factual and stereotypic items emerged among six groups of therapists divided by age and sex. There were statistically significant differences on family life and marital relationship items between the means of Afro-Americans over 45 years of age, who agreed more with positive statements, and Anglo-A mericans under 35 years of age; and on sexual issues each of the three groups of Afro-Americans agreed more with the factual statements than three groups of Anglo-American cohorts. Sexual values and belief statements were the most controversial area of knowledge both within and between the two ethnic groups. The implications of this study are discussed in terms of prevention and early intervention programs for Afro-American communities with particular emphasis on the necessary training of mental health professionals to work effectively with Afro-Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]