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How, not just if, condoms are used: the timing of condom application and removal during vaginal sex among young people in England

How, not just if, condoms are used: the timing of condom application and removal during vaginal sex among young people in England
How, not just if, condoms are used: the timing of condom application and removal during vaginal sex among young people in England
Objective: To assess the prevalence of, and factors associated with, vaginal penetration before condom application and following condom removal among young people in education in England.
Method: A large cross sectional survey (n = 1373) was conducted in educational establishments in England and sexual event diaries were completed by a subsample of young people over a 6 month period.
Results: Of the 375 survey respondents who reported having used a condom on the most recent occasion of vaginal sex, 6% had applied the condom after penetration and 6% had continued penetration after condom removal. Of the 74 diary respondents, 31% applied a condom late and 9% removed a condom early at least once over a 6 month period. The odds of "imperfect" condom use were found to decrease with overall consistency of condom use, confidence in correct condom use, positive reported relationship with mother, non-use of other contraception, and desire to use a condom.
Conclusion: Given that late application and early removal of condoms fail to maximise their effectiveness as a method of STI prevention, it is important to address "imperfect" condom use and the factors associated with such use in public health policies and programmes. It is essential that young people understand the importance of using condoms consistently and correctly, and are also equipped with the skills and knowledge to do so.
condoms, adolescents, sexually transmitted infections
1368-4973
68-70
Hatherall, Bethan
be1ac1cc-b1a3-4ce4-98b0-2dd45aedacee
Ingham, Roger
e3f11583-dc06-474f-9b36-4536dc3f7b99
Stone, Nicole
39001f79-4193-4106-9490-152c2f018958
McEachran, Juliet
1b0b9a94-3ff7-421e-856c-b84b0f49aa08
Hatherall, Bethan
be1ac1cc-b1a3-4ce4-98b0-2dd45aedacee
Ingham, Roger
e3f11583-dc06-474f-9b36-4536dc3f7b99
Stone, Nicole
39001f79-4193-4106-9490-152c2f018958
McEachran, Juliet
1b0b9a94-3ff7-421e-856c-b84b0f49aa08

Hatherall, Bethan, Ingham, Roger, Stone, Nicole and McEachran, Juliet (2006) How, not just if, condoms are used: the timing of condom application and removal during vaginal sex among young people in England. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 83 (1), 68-70. (doi:10.1136/sti.2006.021410).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of, and factors associated with, vaginal penetration before condom application and following condom removal among young people in education in England.
Method: A large cross sectional survey (n = 1373) was conducted in educational establishments in England and sexual event diaries were completed by a subsample of young people over a 6 month period.
Results: Of the 375 survey respondents who reported having used a condom on the most recent occasion of vaginal sex, 6% had applied the condom after penetration and 6% had continued penetration after condom removal. Of the 74 diary respondents, 31% applied a condom late and 9% removed a condom early at least once over a 6 month period. The odds of "imperfect" condom use were found to decrease with overall consistency of condom use, confidence in correct condom use, positive reported relationship with mother, non-use of other contraception, and desire to use a condom.
Conclusion: Given that late application and early removal of condoms fail to maximise their effectiveness as a method of STI prevention, it is important to address "imperfect" condom use and the factors associated with such use in public health policies and programmes. It is essential that young people understand the importance of using condoms consistently and correctly, and are also equipped with the skills and knowledge to do so.

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More information

Published date: 2006
Keywords: condoms, adolescents, sexually transmitted infections

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 40314
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/40314
ISSN: 1368-4973
PURE UUID: 4f8438d4-2deb-40ce-b339-a15282a2c17e
ORCID for Nicole Stone: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0995-8699

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 04 Jul 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:53

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Contributors

Author: Bethan Hatherall
Author: Roger Ingham
Author: Nicole Stone ORCID iD
Author: Juliet McEachran

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