Condom carrying is not associated with condom use and lower prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among minority adolescent females.
BACKGROUND
Most of the studies associated with condom carrying and use have been conducted with adults. Because minority teenage females are particularly at risk for STD/HIV infection, further investigations specifically focusing on this population are warranted.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether observed condom carrying among adolescent females was associated with multiple measures of self-reported condom use, self-reported history of sexually transmitted diseases, and prevalence of biologically confirmed sexually transmitted diseases.


METHODS
For this study, 522 sexually active African American adolescent females were recruited from low-income neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama. Measures of self-reported condom use, STD history, and condom carrying were collected. Adolescents were also tested for three prevalent sexually transmitted diseases.


RESULTS
At the time of the assessment, 8% of the adolescents were observed to have a condom with them. Condom carrying was not found to be significantly associated with condom use and prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
Condom carrying may not be an important outcome of sexually transmitted disease/HIV prevention programs designed to reduce HIV/sexually transmitted disease risk among adolescent females.
DiClemente
R J
RJ
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rdiclem@sph.emory.edu
Wingood
G M
GM
Crosby
R
R
Sionean
C
C
Cobb
B K
BK
Harrington
K
K
Davies
S L
SL
Hook
E W
EW
Oh
M K
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D016387:Women's Health