| Information |
Knowledge about condoms |
Pregnancy prevention |
The first time I heard about condoms was in school, and they related it to pregnancy prevention. At first my parents told me to use a condom so I wouldn’t get someone pregnant. |
| STI prevention |
When I started talking about HIV, I learned that it was a way to prevent HIV. I know that condoms protect against many diseases. |
| Lack of knowledge |
Lack of information |
When I was young I didn’t know about condoms, I didn’t protect myself for a long time because I didn’t think it was necessary. When I began to have experience in sexual relations I learned about it. I had the habit of using double condoms and not using condoms. They have the idea that there is a risk in penetration but there is no risk in oral sex, so they protect themselves for penetration, but they do not protect themselves for oral sex. |
| Motivation |
Personal motivational experiences |
Self-care |
One has to take care of the self, and value themselves as a human being, as a person. Over time I realized that I have to take care of my body, so I protect myself when I have sex. I always use it because I think it is a total danger not to use it, how scary to get a disease and damage your life, imagine the Aids, that you have to live with that, with constant treatments, how scary. |
| Social motivational experiences |
Acceptance by the blood and social family |
When a trans girl counts on the support of her family, it greatly influences one’s desire to take care of one’s own health and that of others. In the community-based organization I go to (Santamaría Fundación) they motivate me to take care of my health, to use condoms and to make my partner respect me in my sexual practices. I am very careful in my sexual practices because I am afraid that my family will see me sick, and I will have to deal with an illness. |
| Behavior |
Use |
Mistrust of the sexual partner |
I go with the client and at once I take out my condom and I uncover it and if the man has a problem because of the condom, I tell him that I am sorry but there is no service. If a man tells me that he pays me more for being without a condom, I already know that this is something dangerous and I refuse to have sex with him. |
| Acquisition |
I use it when I they are available. I can claim them at health centers and also at foundations. There are many organizations or foundations that give them away. |
| Non-use |
Characteristics of condoms |
Condoms are too tight. Sometimes condoms cause allergies. |
| Client’s conditions in sex work |
There are trans women who are in need and it’s their turn, so they agree to sex without a condom when they are offered extra money. Nobody shoots porn with a condom anymore. One tries to put the condom on the toy, but if it appears a little bit the client makes them take it off. |
| Relations with the sexual partner |
The only thing that would influence the use of condoms is if the person is my steady partner for a long time, then it could be eliminated, but otherwise no. Men always say that they don’t feel with a condom. They get angry when you ask for it, and say it’s because they lose sensation. Besides, if you ask for it, they start distrusting you, saying that you are unfaithful. |
| Behavior |
Non-use |
Acquisition |
There are very expensive condoms; people with limited economic resources cannot buy them because they have other needs. I was ashamed to go to a pharmacy to buy condoms. |
| Disinhibition: attraction |
When you like a man, the last thing you think about is using a condom. If you like the person, you can do anything in bed, even without a condom. |
| Disinhibition: arousal |
At the moment of arousal when you forget to use a condom, it doesn’t matter, you don’t even realize it. |
| Disinhibition: consumption of psychoactive substances and alcohol |
When I’m drunk I lose my mind, become irresponsible; everyone is irresponsible after being drunk. Alcohol makes us do many things, with a glass of alcohol you don’t care if it’s with or without a condom. |
| Oral sex |
Oral sex with a condom is horrible. I’m more flexible when it comes to oral sex. I do it without a condom. |
