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participants, one woman sex worker admitted that she had a problem with alcohol abuse.This was the reason her children (all adults) ended their relationship with her years ago,and how she began doing commercial sex work.Condom useUse of condoms was specifically probed in the discussions based on its protectivefunction in sexually transmitted infections. Among the women participants, none of theinfected women partners, who are currently without a partner due to death or separation,claimed to be sexually active. Hence, the question of condom use does not arise. Amongthose who are sexually active, there is awareness of the need to use condoms forprotection. With no exception, all the men with a regular partner, notably, spouse,reported using condoms every time they have sex:“For sex….is only condom. No other way of protection.”(Male, 42yrs, Primary education, Heterosexual)“This is for protecting our partner from being infected….because we havebeen told by those doctors and counsellors.”(Mae, 36yrs, Primary education, Heterosexual)“Kena ada….kena ada. Kena pakai kondom….mesti pakai.”(“Must have….must have. Must use condoms….must use.”)(Male, 39yrs, University education, DU)One woman (Infected Partner), however, remarried after the death of her husband. Shesaid she informed her new fiancé, who is not infected, prior to marriage but he waswilling to marry her any way. However, despite knowing the risks of infection, andadvised by their doctor each time he went for a screening test, he did not use condomsuntil after their child was born. Both husband and infant, presently, are not infected:“Kalau macam saya…..saya memang honest. Memang saya bagi tahusama ada dia terima kah atau tidak. Kekadang tu…..actually kan, mulamula tu kan, saya ada perjanjian dengan dia. Saya harap perjanjian kamikan……sex protection…..pakai kondom itu kan? Tapi last-last, sebelahsuami ni tidak mahu pakai kondom. Rupa rupanya kan….motif nya tidakpakai kondom pada awal tahun 2001. Lepas sekarang baru dia mahupakai kondom. Tapi…skrin, skrin, skrin….masa negatif tu kan, doctorcakap mesti pakai kondom. Bila dapat anak satu kan, terus dia [pakai].”(“Like me….I’m actually honest. In fact, I asked him whether or not he canaccept. Sometimes….actually, initially, I made an agreement with him. Ihoped we agree to….protected sex….use condoms right? However, in theend, my husband did not want to use condoms. It turned out….his motivewas not to use condoms beginning of 2001. Now, he wants to usecondoms. But….screen, screen, screen….at that time. Negative, doctorsaid we must use condoms. After we had one child, he immediately[started using condoms]”)(Female, 30yrs, University education, Infected Partner)41