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Prevalence and predictors of condom use in a national sample of Canadian university students.
- Source :
-
Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality . 2013, Vol. 22 Issue 3, p142-151. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Young adult Canadians of university age are highly sexually active compared to other age groups and are at relatively high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI). It is therefore important to comprehensively assess condom use in this age group. In this study, the prevalence and individual predictors of condom use at last penile vaginal intercourse (PVI) were assessed in a national sample of 653 Canadian university students (252 male, 401 female). Overall, less than half of students (47.2%) reported condom use at last PVI. Condom use was higher among men (55.4%) than women (42.3%). For both men and women, the most frequently cited main reason for having used a condom was birth control. In multivariate analyses, the strongest predictor of condom use at last PVI was a preference for condoms as a contraceptive method; specifically, men and women who stated condoms were their preferred method were 9 and 23 times, respectively, more likely to use condoms at last PVI than those who selected another method. Female students who reported that their most recent sexual encounter occurred with a more committed partner (e.g., committed dating versus a hook-up) had slightly lower odds of reporting condom use at last PVI. The results indicated that rates of condom use are low among Canadian university students and that many students are likely at high risk for STI. Interventions to raise awareness of STIs are needed on Canadian university campuses and educational programs should emphasize improving attitudes towards condoms in addition to developing sexual health knowledge and condom use skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *SEXUALLY transmitted diseases
*AGE distribution
*COLLEGE students
*CONDOMS
*CONFIDENCE intervals
*EPIDEMIOLOGY
*MULTIVARIATE analysis
*RISK-taking behavior
*SEX distribution
*SEX education
*STUDENT attitudes
*T-test (Statistics)
*LOGISTIC regression analysis
*DATA analysis
*PREDICTIVE tests
*DISEASE prevalence
*RETROSPECTIVE studies
*ATTITUDES toward sex
*PSYCHOLOGY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 11884517
- Volume :
- 22
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 93627074
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2316