The HIV prevention intervention Real Men Are Safe (REMAS) was evaluated in a multisite, randomized clinical trial in the NIDA Clinical Trials Network (protocol CTN-0018). This secondary analysis of that trial examined relation of two specific sociocultural factors (masculinity and perceived barriers to condom use) to the self-reported sexual behaviors of Black substance abusing men with their main and casual female partners.
Analyses of the baseline data of 126 Black men entering substance abuse treatment revealed that the endorsement of both personal and social masculinity predicted more unprotected sexual occasions (USO) with casual partners. The perception that condoms decreased sexual pleasure also predicted higher USO rates with casual partners. However, fewer partner barriers was not associated with USO among casual partners as expected. Neither the endorsement of social or personal masculinity or perceived condom barriers predicted USO with main partners.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that interventions that depict condom use as both pleasurable and congruent with Black male perceptions of masculinity may be more effective with Black substance abusing men than interventions focusing solely on health beliefs or education. Future research should continue to investigate the influence of other sociocultural factors, especially those that influence the sexual decision-making process, on sexual risk behaviors among Black men, as well as other groups.
Find it in the CTN Dissemination Library: http://ctndisseminationlibrary.org/display/1190.htm