Sexual Relationships, Sex Communication, and Condom Use among Heterosexual African-American Male College Students in the Southeastern US

This study provides a deeper understanding of hiv risk among African-American heterosexually active men in college. Forty-three men participated in five focus groups and 20 of these participants completed in-depth individual interviews. Participants desired both committed relationships that contributed to greater intimacy and casual sexual relationships. Participants reported many challenges in communicating clearly and specifically with their partners about sexual histories, sexual satisfaction and condom use. In particular, communication barriers inhibited the formation of intimacy and complicated efforts to practice safer-sex. hiv prevention efforts should address barriers to protection use, while strengthening health promotion messages and motivations that already exist.