Condom misuse among adjudicated girls: associations with laboratory-confirmed chlamydia and gonorrhea.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the prevalence of condom use errors among detained female teens and to test two inter-related hypotheses concerning condom failure.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 134 female teens recruited within eight detention facilities. Measures were collected using audio-computer assisted self-interviewing. Assessment for the presence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae was also conducted.


RESULTS
Five forms of condom use errors/problems were common: not discussing condom use with the partner (34.3%), not having a condom when one was desired (48.5%), starting sex before application (21.6%), removing condoms before sex concludes (26.9%), and breakage (32.8%). Significant, associations were found between condom errors/problems and drug/alcohol use. Errors/problems with condom use were significantly higher among teens diagnosed with an sexually transmitted disease (STD) (P = 0.039 for an index measure; P = 0.022 for a single-item measure).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that detained female teens may have experienced multiple condom use error and problems thereby increasing their vulnerability to STD acquisition.
Crosby
Richard
R
College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0003, USA. crosby@uky.edu
Salazar
Laura F
LF
DiClemente
Ralph J
RJ
Yarber
William L
WL
Caliendo
Angela M
AM
Staples-Horne
Michelle
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology