Sexual behaviors, perception of sexually transmitted infection risk, and practice of safe sex among southern African American women who have sex with women.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Women who have sex with women (WSW) and women who have sex with women and men (WSWM) are frequently perceived to be at low risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), although data show that their STI rates are similar to heterosexual women. Little research has examined sexual behaviors, perceptions of STI risk, and practice of safe sex among African American WSW/WSWM living in the Southern United States, a population of women likely to be at high risk for STIs. METHODS: Focus group discussions were conducted with African American WSW/WSWM living in Birmingham, Alabama, to explore their sexual behaviors with women, perceptions of STI risk from female (and male) sexual partners, and practice of safe sex. Digital audio-recordings were transcribed and analyzed using HyperRESEARCH software. RESULTS: Seven focus groups were conducted between August 2011 and March 2012, with 29 total participants. Women reported a broad range of sexual behaviors with female partners. They were more aware of their risk for STI acquisition from male partners than from female partners and felt that their best options for safe sex in their relationships with women were practicing good hygiene and requiring proof of STI testing results. CONCLUSIONS: African American WSW/WSWM in this study were aware of their STI risk, more so with regard to men, and desired accurate information on safer sex options in their sexual relationships with women. Health care providers can assist these women by helping them apply their existing knowledge of heterosexual STI transmission to their female sexual partnerships.
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WSW report reduced knowledge of STI risks.
“WSW report reduced knowledge of STI risks (288), and both WSW and WSWM experience barriers to care, especially Black WSW and WSWM (289,290).”
From Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021 (2021) · cites this paper as [288]
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“They are often not identified as such by health care providers because of lack of sexual behavior disclosure and providers’ assumptions of heterosexuality when taking sexual histories.(2) Owing, in part, to this invisibility, there continues to be confusion and incorrect assumptions regarding sexually transmitted infe…”
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Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021
Workowski, K. A., Bachmann, L. H., Chan, P. A., Johnston, C. M., Muzny, C. A., Park, I., Reno, H., Zenilman, J. M., & Bolan, G. A. (2021) · MMWR. Recommendations and Reports · doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1 · Cited by 2,759 · see citing works
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Self-citation<i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> infection in African American women who exclusively have sex with women
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- Authors
- Muzny, C. A., Harbison, H. S., Pembleton, E. S., & Austin, E. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Corresponding author
- Muzny, Christina A.
- Harbison, Hanne S.
- Austin, Erika L.
- Venue
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Published
- 2013-05
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 395-400
- ISSN
- 0148-5717 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2065278695
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 1.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Keywords
- women who have sex with women, sexually transmitted infections, safe sex practices, sexual behavior, African American women, Southern United States, STI screening, health care provider role
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Alabama, Bisexuality, Black or African American, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Social Perception, Focus Groups, Homosexuality, Female, Young Adult
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