Barriers to Correct Condom Use

描述（由申请人提供）：性传播感染（STI），包括人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV），构成重大健康风险。在美国，大约一半的新艾滋病毒感染者年龄在25岁以下，其中大多数是通过性行为感染的。大约三分之一的新诊断的艾滋病毒/艾滋病归因于异性传播。与女性发生性行为的男性在将艾滋病毒传播给女性的过程中起着主要作用，而女性又可以将其传给后代。始终正确使用避孕套是预防艾滋病毒和许多性传播感染的一种非常有效的方法。然而，研究表明，避孕套使用的问题是普遍的，这些问题构成了持续和彻底使用避孕套的障碍。这个项目旨在提高我们对认知和情感过程以及避孕套使用技巧在解释年轻异性恋成年男性使用避孕套问题中的作用的理解。一种多方法方法——包括两项研究，涉及问卷调查、观察和心理生理学方法——将与基于技能的干预相结合。从拟议的研究中获得的知识可以用来为创新、更有效和有针对性的干预和教育策略的发展提供信息，这些策略是为有效使用避孕套有困难的个人的需求量身定制的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Sexually transmitted infections (STI), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), pose significant health risks. About half of the new HIV infections in the US are among people under age 25 years with the majority infected through sexual behavior. About one in three new diagnoses with HIV/AIDS are attributed to heterosexual transmission. Men who have sex with women play a major role in HIV transmission to women who can also pass it on to offspring. Consistent and correct use of condoms can be a highly effective method of preventing the transmission of HIV and many STIs. Yet, studies show that problems with condom use are common and that these problems pose a barrier to consistent and complete condom use. This project aims to advance our understanding of, among other factors, the role of cognitive and affective processes and condom application skills in explaining problems with condom use in young, heterosexual adult men. A multi-method approach - consisting of two studies and involving questionnaires, observational, and psychophysiological methods - will be used in conjunction with a skill-based intervention. The knowledge gained from the proposed research can be used to inform the development of innovative, more effective, and targeted intervention and education strategies tailored to the needs of individuals who have trouble using condoms effectively. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Sexually transmitted infections (STI), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), pose significant health risks. Consistent and correct use of condoms can be a highly effective method of preventing the transmission of HIV and many STIs, yet studies show that problems with condom use are common. This project is one of the first to examine under controlled conditions the role of cognitive and affective factors and condom skills in explaining condom use problems in young, heterosexual adult men.