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Stage of behavior change for condom use: the influence of partner type, relationship and pregnancy factors.

A theoretical model was used to examine the influence of relationship factors, pregnancy intentions, contraceptive behavior and other psychosocial characteristics on stages of behavior change in condom use among heterosexual black women of reproductive age. Data from an inner-city street survey compared women who were not contemplating condom use, women who were attempting to use condoms or had used them consistently for short periods of time, and those who had achieved long-term consistent use. Women's relationship with their main partner appears to be an important factor in understanding their use of condoms both with main partners and with other partners. For condom use with the main partner, factors such as emotional closeness and partner support were significant predictors of the likelihood that women would be attempting to use condoms rather than not contemplating use. Cohabitation and the belief that condom use builds trust were significant predictors of long-term consistent condom use. Having a regular or main partner was strongly associated with intentions to use condoms with other partners. Women who wanted to become pregnant were much less likely to intend to use condoms with their main partner, and women using oral contraceptives were less likely to be long-term consistent condom users.

Adolescent↗

Condom use at first intercourse with a new partner in female adolescents and young adults: the role of cognitive planning and motives for having sex.

This study examined the extent to which cognitive planning and motives for sex can explain condom use at first intercourse with young females' most recent partner. A total of 133 female adolescents completed a questionnaire on cognitive planning (i.e., mentally preparing oneself for discussing condom use and for managing condoms), motives for having sex (i.e., having sex to express love, to experience pleasure, to enhance mood, and to please others), and condom use at this particular occasion. Logistic regression analyses showed that condom use was positively related to cognitive planning with respect to discussing condom use and negatively related to the motive for having sex to enhance mood. Cognitive planning for the management of condoms did not have a significant overall effect on condom use, but it did appear to be very effective for those adolescents who had a low score on the motive for having sex to express love. It thus appears useful to strengthen the skills of adolescents to discuss the use of condoms. Furthermore, stressing the negative affective consequences of unsafe sex may be particularly effective for those who are inclined to have sex to enhance mood, while encouraging adolescents to make plans for the management of condoms is likely to positively affect the use of condoms among those who are not primarily motivated to express love by having sex.

Adolescent↗

Having sex and condom use: potential risks and benefits reported by young, sexually inexperienced adolescents.

PURPOSE: This study determines what young adolescents themselves identify as the potential positive and negative outcomes of having sex, using a condom and not using a condom. METHODS: Using written surveys, 418 ethnically diverse ninth graders, 86% of whom had never had sex, responded to a scenario describing two adolescents who had sex. One randomly selected group read a scenario in which a condom was used; the other group read a scenario in which no condom was used. All participants were asked to list the risks and benefits of having sex. Depending on the scenario read, participants were asked to list the risks and benefits of either using or not using a condom. Responses were coded thematically. Percentages of responses were compared with chi-square analysis in total and by gender. RESULTS: Participants spontaneously identified a broad range of health and psychosocial risks and benefits of having sex, using a condom and not using a condom. A strong aversion to pregnancy was evident, and the risks of sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus (STD/HIV) and condom malfunction were commonly mentioned. Benefits of using a condom included pregnancy and STD prevention. Benefits of both having sex and of not using a condom included improving the relationship, fun, and pleasure. Gender differences emerged across questions. CONCLUSIONS: Communication with adolescents regarding safe sexual activity could benefit from widening the communication from a focus on health risks to include discussion of the psychosocial risks and benefits that adolescents themselves think about with respect to sex and condom use.

Adolescent↗

Use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to measure semen exposure resulting from male condom failures: implications for contraceptive efficacy and the prevention of sexually transmitted disease.

Accurate measurement of semen exposure resulting from condom failures can refine public health messages and improve predictions of condom efficacy in preventing pregnancy and HIV transmission. Eight hundred and thirty couples enrolled in a condom efficacy study were asked to collect a baseline sample of ejaculate from the inside of the first study condom they used and to collect a postcoital vaginal sample whenever a study condom broke or slipped off during intercourse. All samples were quantitatively tested for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a substance found only in human semen, using rocket immunoelectrophoresis, and inspected microscopically for presence of sperm. Sixty-eight baseline ejaculate samples collected from the inside of the first study condom by couples who subsequently experienced a condom failure averaged 13.4 microg PSA per swab and 79% of the samples averaged one or more sperm per high power field (hpf). Seventy-nine postcoital vaginal samples obtained after a condom break averaged 5.7 microg PSA per swab and only 38% averaged one or more sperm per hpf. The PSA results indicated a 50% reduction in semen exposure compared to baseline levels (p = 0.0001). Seventeen samples obtained after a condom slip-off averaged 2.5 microg PSA per swab and none of the samples averaged one or more sperm per hpf. The PSA results indicated an 80% reduction in semen exposure compared to baseline levels (p = 0.0001). Our results suggest that even condoms that fail reduce the risk of pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted disease compared to unprotected intercourse. We also used PSA results to adjust a model designed to predict consistent-use pregnancy rates from condom breakage and slippage data.

Coitus↗

Effectiveness of condoms in preventing HIV transmission.

The consistent use of latex condoms continues to be advocated for primary prevention of HIV infection despite limited quantitative evidence regarding the effectiveness of condoms in blocking the sexual transmission of HIV. Although recent meta-analyses of condom effectiveness suggest that condoms are 60 to 70% effective when used for HIV prophylaxis, these studies do not isolate consistent condom use, and therefore provide only a lower bound on the true effectiveness of correct and consistent condom use. A reexamination of HIV seroconversion studies suggests that condoms are 90 to 95% effective when used consistently, i.e. consistent condom users are 10 to 20 times less likely to become infected when exposed to the virus than are inconsistent or non-users. Similar results are obtained utilizing model-based estimation techniques, which indicate that condoms decrease the per-contact probability of male-to-female transmission of HIV by about 95%. Though imperfect, condoms provide substantial protection against HIV infection. Condom promotion therefore remains an important international priority in the fight against AIDS.

Condoms↗

Promoting female condoms in HIV voluntary counselling and testing centres in Kenya.

Promotion of male condoms and voluntary counselling and testing for HIV (VCT) have been cornerstones of Kenya's fight against the HIV epidemic. This paper argues that there is an urgent need to promote the female condom in Kenya through VCT centres, which are rapidly being scaled-up across the country and are reaching increasingly large numbers of people. Training of counsellors using a vaginal demonstration model is needed, as well an adequate supply of free female condoms. In a study in five VCT centres, however, counsellors reported that most people they counselled believed female condoms were "not as good" as male condoms. In fact, many clients had little or no knowledge or experience of female condoms. Counsellors' knowledge too was largely based on hearsay; most felt constrained by lack of experience and had many doubts about female condoms, which need addressing. Additional areas that require attention in training include how to re-use female condoms and the value of female condoms for contraception. VCT counsellors in Kenya already promote male condoms as a routine part of risk reduction counselling alongside HIV testing. This cadre, trained in client-centred approaches, has the potential to champion female condoms as well, to better support the right to a healthy and safe sex life.

Single-Use Internal Condom↗

The increasing marginal benefit of condom usage.

PURPOSE: Condom use is promoted as a primary strategy for preventing sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This paper analyzes how incremental changes in condom compliance rates can affect an individual's risk of acquiring HIV. METHODS: We developed a simple mathematical model of HIV transmission in which the cumulative probability of HIV infection depended in part upon the percentage of acts in which a condom was used. We applied basic methods of calculus to differentiate the mathematical model with respect to the probability of condom usage. We applied values from published studies to the model to illustrate how the marginal benefits of condom usage vary across different populations. RESULTS: In general, the marginal benefit of condom usage increases as condom compliance increases. CONCLUSIONS: The marginal benefits of increased condom usage vary across different risk groups and across different levels of condom compliance. These results offer insight into the motivation behind the decision of whether or not to use condoms, and indicate possible ways to optimize the use of resources devoted to increasing condom usage by at-risk populations.

Condoms↗

Sexual practices and psychosocial correlates of current condom use among Chinese gay men in Hong Kong.

This study examined sexual practices, condom use, and psychosocial correlates of condom use in a convenience sample of 187 Chinese gay men in Hong Kong. Among those who were sexually active and answered the item on condom use (n = 164), 22% never used condoms, 39% were inconsistent condom users, and 39% used condoms every time they engaged in sexual activities in the past 6 months. Compared to inconsistent and noncondom users, consistent condom users had more positive feelings toward condom use, perceived greater vulnerability to STD/AIDS infections, showed greater self-acceptance and disclosure of their homosexual sexual orientation, were more involved with local gay communities, endorsed more favorable attitudes toward coming out, and had a lower level of perceived discrimination because of their homosexual sexual orientation. The two groups did not differ significantly on perceived partner reaction to condom use. Results of a logistic regression analysis showed that positive feelings toward condom use were the most salient correlate of consistent condom use.

Adolescent↗

Toxicological evaluation of nitrosamines in condoms.

Volatile N-nitrosamines have been found in rubber products including gloves, balloons, toys, baby bottle teats, soothers, and condoms. N-Nitrosamines are potent carcinogens, and therefore, European legislation has limited the release of N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable compounds in teats and soothers to 0.01-0.1 mg/kg rubber, respectively. Previously, endogenous nitrosamine formation in the vagina has been suggested as a cause of cervical cancer. It was speculated that exogenous N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable compounds from condoms may also lead to genital cancer. Therefore, we reviewed the literature and calculated the risk for the induction of tumors by nitrosamines from condoms. In vitro Biaudet et al. (1997) found up to 88 ng nitrosatable compounds migrating from condoms to cervical mucous within 24 hrs. During sexual intercourse about 0.6 ng may migrate in the female genital mucous membranes because of the short contact to the condom, e.g. 10 min. Comparable amounts of nitrosamines may also migrate in the penile skin. Estimating 1500 contacts to condoms during lifetime (50 condoms/year for 30 years) this may result in the adsorption of up to 0.9 microgram nitrosamines in total. Animal studies in Syrian hamsters showed the induction of local and/or systemic tumors, in particular liver tumors, after topical application of nitrosamines to the skin or mucous membrane at a total dose of about 1 g. This dose exceeds the dose to be expected from contact with condoms by more than 1 million. Also, epidemiological studies do not support a role for condoms in the induction of cancer. The incidence of cervical cancer and liver tumors is high in developing countries, where condoms are seldom used. In addition, humans are regularly exposed to nitrosamines from food and tobacco smoke at a dose which is 1,000 to 10,000 fold higher than expected from condom use. In summary, the risk for the induction of tumors from nitrosamines in condoms is very low.

Animals↗

Problems with condoms -- a population-based study among Finnish men and women.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates men's and women's opinions of condom use and problems with it in real life. METHODS: Random samples of men and women, aged 18-50 years, were drawn from the Finnish Population Register and were mailed a questionnaire on family planning. Response rates were 36% for men (706) and 58% for women (1136). Respondents were asked e.g. about condom use, whether they had had problems with it and why they used condoms. Moreover they were asked if they had received advice on how to use condoms. RESULTS: Among both men and women 87% had at some time used condoms. Of all men 37% and of women 34% reported that they had at some time had a failure with condom use; among both men and women one in four had experienced condom breakage. The use of condoms with the main purpose of preventing sexually transmitted diseases was somewhat low. The proportion of respondents having received advice on condom use was greater among younger men and women. CONCLUSION: A patient with problems in condom use is not uncommon in consultations in primary health care, and thus personnel working there hold a key position in promoting condom use. The role of school health care should be assured to offer basic sexual and reproductive counselling to every generation.

Adult↗

Condom use and its association with HIV/sexually transmitted diseases in four urban communities of sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate rates of condom use in four urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa and to assess their association with levels of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). METHODS: Data were obtained from a multicentre study of factors that determine the differences in rate of spread of HIV in four African cities. Consenting participants were interviewed on sexual behaviour, and also provided blood and urine samples for testing for HIV infection and other STDs. Data on sexual behaviour included information on condom use during all reported spousal and non-spousal partnerships in the past 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 2116 adults aged 15-49 years were interviewed in Cotonou (Benin), 2089 in Yaoundé (Cameroon), 1889 in Kisumu (Kenya) and 1730 in Ndola (Zambia). Prevalence rates of HIV infection were 3.4% in Cotonou, 5.9% in Yaoundé, 25.9% in Kisumu and 28.4% in Ndola. Reported condom use was low, with the proportions of men and women who reported frequent condom use with all non-spousal partners being 21-25%, for men and 11-24% for women. A higher level of condom use by city was not associated with lower aggregate level of HIV infection. The proportions of men reporting genital pain or discharge during the past 12 months were significantly lower among those reporting frequent condom use in all sites except Yaoundé: in Cotonou, adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09-0.94; in Kisumu, adjusted OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14-0.83; and in Ndola, adjusted OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.12-0.90. The same association was found for reported genital ulcers in two sites only: in Cotonou, adjusted OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.02-1.02; and in Kisumu, adjusted OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.04-0.75. There were few statistically significant associations between condom use and biological indicators of HIV infection or other STDs in any of the cities. CONCLUSION: Similar levels of condom use were found in all four populations, and aggregate levels of condom use by city could not discriminate between cities with high and low level of HIV infection. It seems that rates of condom use may not have been high enough to have a strong impact on HIV/STD levels in the four cities. At an individual level, only a male history of reported STD symptoms was found to be consistently associated with lower rates of reported condom use.

Adolescent↗

Condom use errors and problems among college men.

BACKGROUND: An essential yet understudied aspect of condom use is whether they are used correctly. GOAL: The goal of the study was to comprehensively evaluate condom use errors and problems reported by heterosexual college men (N = 158). STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey, involving a 3-month recall period, was conducted. RESULTS: Of the 158 participants, 60% did not discuss condom use with their partner before sex; 42% reported they wanted to use condoms but did not have any available; 43% put condoms on after starting sex; 15% removed condoms before ending sex; 40% did not leave space at the tip; 30% placed the condom upside down on the penis and had to flip it over; and 32% reported losing erections in association with condom use. Nearly one-third reported breakage or slippage during sex. Few participants reported errors related to lubrication, storage, and reusing condoms. Higher error scores were associated with breakage/slippage rather than with consistency of condom use. CONCLUSION: Condom use errors were common, and error scores were associated with breakage and slippage. Increasing the focus on correcting potential user failures may be an important public health strategy.

Condoms↗

Use of male condoms during and after randomized, controlled trial participation in Cameroon.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated patterns of long-term use of male condoms among partners of 966 Cameroonian women who received eight intensive, monthly counseling sessions about condoms and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment. METHOD: An interrupted time-series design was used with study participants reporting condom use and other covariates at enrollment, monthly for 6 months during the randomized, controlled trial, and at approximately 14 months after the trial. RESULTS: Consistent condom use began decreasing while women were still receiving monthly condom use counseling, with every month in the trial associated with an odds ratio of 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.99) of consistent condom use and dropped substantively after the trial with a 0.39 (95% CI, 0.26-0.59) odds ratio in a logistic regression analysis. The incidence of unprotected coital acts as each month passed increased by 3% (95% CI, 1-4%) with no statistically significant change during the condom use follow-up survey as indicated in a zero-inflated Poisson regression model for unprotected coital acts. Condom use in a coital act was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.78-0.92) less likely during the follow-up survey than during the trial. CONCLUSION: Only a few women sustained consistent condom use throughout the study period and for more than 1 year after. It is important to continue documenting the impact of condom promotion in a rigorous manner and to identify content and delivery of counseling that will lead to sustained condom use beyond the intervention period.

Adult↗

Condom promotion for AIDS prevention in the developing world: is it working?

Two decades of experience and research provide new insights into the role of condoms for AIDS prevention in the developing world. This literature review and synthesis is based on computerized searches of the scientific literature and review of conference presentations, publications of national and international organizations, and popular media. Condoms are about 90 percent effective for preventing HIV transmission, and their use has grown rapidly in many countries. Condoms have produced substantial benefit in countries like Thailand, where both transmission and condom promotion are concentrated in the area of commercial sex. The public health benefit of condom promotion in settings with widespread heterosexual transmission, however, remains unestablished. In countries like Uganda that have curbed generalized epidemics, reducing the number of individuals' sex partners appears to have been more important than promoting the use of condoms. Other countries continue to have high rates of HIV transmission despite high reported rates of condom use among the sexually active. The impact of condoms may be limited by inconsistent use, low use among those at highest risk, and negative interactions with other strategies. Recommendations include increased condom promotion for groups at high risk, more rigorous measurement of the impact of condom promotion, and more research on how best to integrate condom promotion with other prevention strategies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model: testing direct and mediated treatment effects on condom use among women in low-income housing.

BACKGROUND: The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model of HIV preventive behavior (1-4) specifies that treatment effects on behavior occur largely as the result of treatment effects on behavioral skills, which follow from effects on information and motivation. PURPOSE: The objective was to determine whether the variables specified by the IMB model of HIV preventive behavior (1-4) accounted for the relation between an IMB-based treatment and resulting HIV preventive behavior (condom use). METHOD: Women (n = 557) living in 18 low-income housing developments in 5 geographically dispersed cities were recruited to participate in an HIV-prevention study. Women (within housing developments) were randomly assigned to receive an IMB-based, HIV risk-avoidance intervention or a comparison intervention. Baseline and posttreatment (16 months after baseline) data were collected on condom use information, motivation (social norms, attitudes, intentions, and perceived risk), enactment of behavioral skills (condom negotiation and procurement), and rates of condom use in the past 2 months. RESULTS: The IMB intervention led to a 12% to 16% increase in condom use rates over the course, whereas the comparison intervention led to 2% decrease. In addition, the IMB treatment led to greater increases in condom use information, in the intentions and social norms components of motivation and the condom procurement and condom conversations components of behavioral skills. The IMB model provided an acceptable fit to the data (root mean square error of approximation < .05) and accounted for 50% of the variance in posttreatment condom use among the sample. Treatment effects on condom use were almost entirely mediated by the IMB variables; specifically, motivation and enactment of behavioral skills mediated the intervention's impact on condom use. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide supporting evidence as to how theoretical variables operate to effect change within a theory-based intervention and provide evidence as to the applicability of a prevailing theory of HIV risk behavior among low-income minority women.

Adolescent↗

Social and behavioural determinants of consistent condom use among hotel and bar workers in Northern Tanzania.

Bar and hotel workers (n=519) in Moshi, Tanzania were interviewed to obtain information about potential predictors of condom use. Samples were collected for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. Consistent condom use was defined as always using condoms with sexual partners in the past five years. Overall consistent condom use in this population was 14.1%. In multivariate analyses, consistent condom use was inversely associated with low condom self-efficacy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.20; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.06-0.71), low condom knowledge (AOR, 0.11; CI, 0.01-0.80), and having more than three children (AOR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.09-0.54). Other significant predictors included perceived condom acceptability and using condoms when last exchanged sex for money or gift. These results indicate that increased specific condom knowledge, improved self-efficacy, and reduced social stigma could be effective strategies in the promotion of condom use in this population.

Adolescent↗

Incorrect condom use and frequent breakage among female sex workers and their clients.

Our objective was to assess if female sex workers (FSWs) and their potential male clients in Cotonou, Benin, know how to use male condoms correctly. From April to June 2000, 314 FSWs and 208 men were interviewed, and asked to demonstrate on a wooden penis how they usually use male condoms. In all, 27.6% of both women and men tore the condom envelope on the notch; 89.3% of the women versus 75.4% of the men easily found the correct side; 17.3% of the women versus 28.3% of the men held the top of the condom to avoid air entering; 91.4% of the women versus 75.6% of the men correctly unrolled the condom. Taking all the four criteria together, only approximately 11% of participants performed a correct condom use demonstration. FSWs frequently reported condom breakage, which was significantly associated with incorrect condom demonstration (P = 0.04). Correct condom use is suboptimal in these heavy consumers of male condoms in Benin. Condom breakage is frequent and is associated with incorrect use.

Africa South of the Sahara↗

Condom shape: a neglected factor influencing use and acceptability? UK Family Planning Research Network.

Improving condom acceptability amongst users is one way to enhance efficacy. This study aimed to test whether or not the shape of a condom influenced users' perceptions of condom acceptability as measured through their ratings of condom comfort, sensitivity and security. Four types of condoms were tested which had 3 different shapes, and one of which also had a small diameter. Participants were recruited at 15 UK Family Planning Research Network Clinics and one Student Health Centre in England and Wales in late 1997. A total of 1193 people initially volunteered to take part and of these 204 men and 251 women completed the trial, giving an overall response rate of 38%. Results suggest that both men and women were able to detect differences in the shapes of the condoms and that differences led to preference for a particular condom type. Similar proportions preferred a straight-sided, a flared and a contoured condom, whilst the smaller, contoured condom was preferred by a minority of respondents. To optimize consistent condom use, providers should consider encouraging users to try a range of condoms to ensure that they are using the one most suitable for them.

Adolescent↗