Barriers to Condom Use

Condom Use and Sexual Behaviors Among Individuals Procuring Free Male Condoms in South Africa: A Prospective Study

Condom use was relatively high in individuals procuring condoms from public health facilities in South Africa, but data highlight several important barriers to condom use that may be targeted by future interventions.

Sex Transm Dis 2002 Apr;29(4):239-241
Myer L, Mathews C, Little F.
HIV Prevention and Vaccine Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, and Fogarty AIDS Information, Training & Research Program, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York; and Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council and Department of Public Health, and Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Although the South African government has increased the number of male condoms distributed free to the public, there is no understanding of whether these are being used effectively to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.

GOAL: The study goal was to determine sexual behaviors and barriers to condom use among individuals procuring condoms distributed free to the public sector.

STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective study, individuals who procured condoms from 12 public health facilities across South Africa were recruited and observed for the next 5 weeks.

RESULTS: The 384 successfully observed subjects reported 3262 sexual contacts, of which 2637 (81%) involved protection with a condom. In multivariate analysis, alcohol consumption and use of other contraceptives were associated with unprotected sexual intercourse.

CONCLUSION: The levels of condom use are relatively high in this population, but these data highlight several important barriers to condom use that may be targeted by future interventions.

PMID: 11912466 [Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/ and enter the Pubmed ID above into the search box]