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STI prevalence among older
Australian women is increasing, the authors wrote, in part because women are
finding new partners after losing a spouse to death or divorce. These women may
be less likely to use condoms with their new partners and therefore at risk for
STIs. Among women using an Internet dating service, the current study compared
the characteristics of women age 40 and older with those ages 18-39, and it
determined factors associated with protective safer sex attitudes.
By e-mail message, women who had
used the Internet dating service RSVP in the previous six months were directed
to a survey conducted by Family Planning New South Wales. The survey assessed
demographic factors, knowledge of STIs, and attitudes about safer sex
practices. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with
talking about STIs before sex, as well as refusing unprotected sex with a new
partner.
A total of 1,788 women completed the
questionnaire; of these, 62.2 percent were age 40 or older. Most (64.8 percent)
said they were seeking a long-term partner. Meeting a new sex partner via the
Internet was reported by 41.5 percent of respondents. Compared with younger
women, those age 40 and older were significantly more likely to discuss STIs
with a new partner, but they were less likely to refuse unprotected sex.
“The Internet is a useful venue for
women of all ages to meet new sexual partners,” the authors concluded. “Older
women are vulnerable to STI acquisition through failure to use condoms with a
new partner. Research is needed to determine effective interventions to
increase condom use in this age group.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
