Empowerment and Condom Use Among Mexican and Mexican American Women in Illinois

Abstract

This study used a survey of 218 Mexican women living in Illinois to test if measures of women’s empowerment in the economic, sociocultural, interpersonal/relational, and political dimensions influenced condom use. Our findings revealed that sociocultural and political forms of empowerment were significantly correlated with condom use. More specifically, women who were allowed to leave the house to visit friends without their husband/partner’s permission, had a cell phone, worked for or contributed to a political campaign, participated in a public meeting, and voted were more likely to use condoms with their husband or partners than other women. In addition, women who were younger and completed the survey in English were also more likely to use condoms. However, neither women’s economic nor interpersonal empowerment in their romantic relationship influenced condom use. Thus, women’s general empowerment may be a crucial preamble to safe sex.