UNITED STATES: Lack of Recent Condom Use Among Detained Adolescent Males: a Multilevel Investigation

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UNITED STATES: Lack of Recent Condom Use Among Detained Adolescent Males: a Multilevel Investigation

Sexually Transmitted Infections (12.04) Vol. 80; No. 6: P. 425-429 - Thursday, December 16, 2004
R. Crosby; L.F. Salazar; R.J. DiClemente

The authors sought to examine multiple levels of influence as to the lack of recent condom use among a high-risk sample of adolescent males serving predominantly short-term detention sentences. Using audio-computer assisted self-interviewing, a cross-sectional survey of 231 adolescent males was conducted. Condom use during the most recent sexual event was assessed, in addition to 20 potential correlates of not using condoms. The authors assessed the correlates within five levels of causation: personal, relational, peer affiliation, family and societal.

"Nine correlates achieved bivariate significance (p<0.05). Of these, the personal level correlates were particularly important in a multivariate model. The motivational subscale from the Condom Barriers Scale was the strongest multivariate correlate of recent condom use," the authors reported. Survey respondents who scored below the median were around 3.4 times more likely to report lack of recent condom use (p=0.0006). Adolescents who indicated they had ever caused a pregnancy were about 2.5 times more likely to report lack of condom use (p=0.02). And those who reported their peers did not use condoms were about twice as likely to report not using condoms (p=0.048).

"Upon investigating multiple levels of potential influence on condom use, the multivariate findings suggest that personal level factors may be the most important determinant of non-use among adolescent males in short-term detention facilities," concluded the authors. "Although structural changes may be needed to influence some forms of safer sex behaviour, direct intervention with adolescent males may be justified to favourably alter determinants of condom use."
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