[Inconsistent condom use among Mexican women living with HIV: a challenge for health services].

OBJECTIVE

To describe condom use among Mexican women living with HIV and analyze factors that facilitate or impede its utilization.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Qualitative analysis of 55 interviews with women of reproductive age living with HIV.

RESULTS

Inconsistent condom use and non-use at last sexual intercourse was common, and not clearly related to the male partners' HIV-status. Factors that influenced condom use included perceptions of health benefits, symbolic meaning assigned to the condom within the relationship, and the transformation or persistence of inequitable gender norms.

CONCLUSIONS

Gender norms and male partners' attitudes strongly influence condom use among women living with HIV. To increase consistent condom use the health system must implement counseling and service delivery with a gender perspective and innovative actions to involve male partners.