       Document 0979
 DOCN  M9620979
 TI    Risky heterosexual practices amongst women over 30: gender, power and
       long term relationships.
 DT    9602
 AU    Maxwell C; Boyle M; Psychology Department, Claybury Hospital, Woodford
       Bridge, Essex,; UK.
 SO    AIDS Care. 1995;7(3):277-93. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96067997
 AB    Statistics suggest that older and younger people are about equally at
       risk for HIV infection, yet existing research on heterosexuality and
       safer sexual practices has tended to focus on people under the age of
       25. The present qualitative study investigates risk behaviours and the
       practice of safer sex in older populations. Group discussions comprising
       women over the age of 30 (n = 23) targeted two issues: the gendered
       power dimension of heterosexuality and safer sex in long term
       relationships. Cohort issues were also discussed. The discussion groups
       revealed that the imbalance of power between men and women which has
       been shown by previous research to constrain younger women's choices
       with regard to safer sex, continues to affect older women's decisions.
       Many of the group participants still found it difficult to assert
       themselves in sexual relationships and even those who were able to
       challenge overt pressures to engage in unsafe sex were still susceptible
       to internalized social pressures. In addition, it seems that risks for
       older age groups are increased by difficulties in continuing to use
       condoms in long term relationships where monogamy cannot be taken for
       granted. It was also apparent that there are difficulties in changing
       sexual behaviours which were established before HIV became an issue.
 DE    Adult  Condoms  Female  *Gender Identity  Human  HIV
       Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  *Knowledge,
       Attitudes, Practice  Middle Age  *Power (Psychology)  *Sex Behavior  Sex
       Education  Sexual Partners/PSYCHOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

