Journal of community health
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The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge regarding STD spread and prevention, and to assess motivational and behavioral factors that influence the use of condoms to prevent STD acquisition among inner-city women at high risk for STD infection. In addition, the effect of past and/or current STD infection on a woman's knowledge of the mechanism of STD acquisition and subsequent use of a condom to prevent STD infection was explored. We utilized three inner-city clinics offering family planning or gynecologic care located in Brooklyn, New York. ⋯ Condom use to prevent STD acquisition was more than twice as frequently reported when a favorable attitude was perceived by a male sexual partner (OR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.54-3.43). Our findings suggest that prevention of unplanned pregnancy was a stronger motivator for condom use than disease prevention among the women comprising our study group. The findings also indicate the need for more extensive information regarding STD prevention among women at high risk for STD acquisition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)