A cross-country comparison of reasons for condom use during menses: associations with age and gender inequality
A cross-country comparison of reasons for condom use during menses: associations with age and gender inequality
Objectives: Despite evidence that menstrual bleeding is a risk factor for sexually transmissible infections, few studies have assessed the prevalence of, and reasons for, condom use during menses. The objectives of the present study were to examine (1) the prevalence of condom use during menses; (2) if condom use during menses varies depending on age and gender inequality of country of residence; and (3) whether age and gender inequality of country of residence interact with reasons for using, and not using, condoms during menses. Methods: A sample of 25,955 individuals from 146 countries, all reporting penile-vaginal intercourse in the past 3 months, was used. Condom use during menses over the previous 3 months, whether this varied by age and level of gender inequality in countries, and reasons for using and not using condoms during menses were assessed via a web-based questionnaire. Results: Age and gender inequality of country of residence were significant predictors of condom use during menses, with those in the younger, high gender-equality group significantly the most likely, and those in the older, low gender-equality group, the least likely to use condoms during bleeding. The three most reported reasons were “for contraception,” “I use condoms even when I don’t have my period,” and “protecting your partner from your blood.” Reported reasons for using and not using condoms during menses showed significant associations with age and with level of gender inequality. Conclusion: Findings highlight that globally sexually transmitted infection/HIV education programs need to promote consistent condom use across the menstrual cycle.
STIs, condoms, menstruation
130-140
Graham, Cynthia A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
Crosby, Richard A.
626c2897-4a0d-447c-8a82-b4068006646c
Sanders, Stephanie A.
affa266d-374c-4d25-8e15-1985256cfc72
Vitzhum, Virginia J.
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Milhausen, Robin R.
24a1176e-8017-48ec-9c11-7a7e314b8045
Yarber, William L.
6d44e4bd-492e-4d9c-84a7-e499de8cfb6d
Graham, Cynthia A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
Crosby, Richard A.
626c2897-4a0d-447c-8a82-b4068006646c
Sanders, Stephanie A.
affa266d-374c-4d25-8e15-1985256cfc72
Vitzhum, Virginia J.
15f4e0a1-a40d-492f-821d-70478e1ec49f
Milhausen, Robin R.
24a1176e-8017-48ec-9c11-7a7e314b8045
Yarber, William L.
6d44e4bd-492e-4d9c-84a7-e499de8cfb6d
Graham, Cynthia A., Crosby, Richard A., Sanders, Stephanie A., Vitzhum, Virginia J., Milhausen, Robin R. and Yarber, William L.
(2020)
A cross-country comparison of reasons for condom use during menses: associations with age and gender inequality.
International Journal of Sexual Health, 32 (2), .
(doi:10.1080/19317611.2020.1759749).
Abstract
Objectives: Despite evidence that menstrual bleeding is a risk factor for sexually transmissible infections, few studies have assessed the prevalence of, and reasons for, condom use during menses. The objectives of the present study were to examine (1) the prevalence of condom use during menses; (2) if condom use during menses varies depending on age and gender inequality of country of residence; and (3) whether age and gender inequality of country of residence interact with reasons for using, and not using, condoms during menses. Methods: A sample of 25,955 individuals from 146 countries, all reporting penile-vaginal intercourse in the past 3 months, was used. Condom use during menses over the previous 3 months, whether this varied by age and level of gender inequality in countries, and reasons for using and not using condoms during menses were assessed via a web-based questionnaire. Results: Age and gender inequality of country of residence were significant predictors of condom use during menses, with those in the younger, high gender-equality group significantly the most likely, and those in the older, low gender-equality group, the least likely to use condoms during bleeding. The three most reported reasons were “for contraception,” “I use condoms even when I don’t have my period,” and “protecting your partner from your blood.” Reported reasons for using and not using condoms during menses showed significant associations with age and with level of gender inequality. Conclusion: Findings highlight that globally sexually transmitted infection/HIV education programs need to promote consistent condom use across the menstrual cycle.
Text
Graham et al Reasons CLUE paper accepted version 17 April 2020
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 17 April 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 14 May 2020
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Clue by BioWink GmbH for survey preparation and data collection and Marija V. Wheeler for her help with data preparation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Keywords:
STIs, condoms, menstruation
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 439636
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/439636
ISSN: 1931-7611
PURE UUID: 1173074e-306e-4f2d-be59-5103a4f44c2e
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Date deposited: 28 Apr 2020 16:35
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 05:30
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Contributors
Author:
Richard A. Crosby
Author:
Stephanie A. Sanders
Author:
Virginia J. Vitzhum
Author:
Robin R. Milhausen
Author:
William L. Yarber
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