PERCEPTIONS OF HETEROSEXUAL WOMEN WITH ONLY ONE PARTNER ABOUT MALE CONDOM USE

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The difference between women and men related to number of AIDS cases is decreasing. In some relationships, negotiations about male condom use are not accepted by men and women feel ashamed. The aim of this study was to research the perceptions of heterosexual women with only one partner about male condom use.METHOD: The research was qualitative and transversal. Thirteen women were interviewed about ideas and experience related to male condom. It was included women who was between 18 and 59-years-old, with only one partner and registered in a Health Family Unit, in Belém -Pará, Brazil. It was excluded women that gave up the study. The information were studied by discourse analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The women identified the male condom to a way to prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). The advantages were intimate hygiene, protection against pregnancy and STD and absence of synthetic hormones. The disadvantages were uncomfortable sensation with the condom material. Most of them told that the male condom do not disturb the sexual pleasure. The proportion of partners that like and do not like male condoms were similar. Most of the couples decided together to use condom. The women reported that many women do not know about STD. So, they suggested more educative lecture on health services and outside; more Brazilian Health Ministry advertisements to women with only one partner; free distribution of male condoms; to improve male condoms quality; to overcome prejudices about male condoms and more dialogue between women and men.