Condom failure: examining the objective and cultural meanings expressed in interviews with African American adolescents.
The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning and context of self-reported "condom failure" among sexually active African American adolescents. Semistructured interviews regarding methods of protection from pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) with 124 youth (ages 14-19 years) were content analyzed. The findings suggested three meanings of condom failure. First, condom failure represents a legitimate and important risk related to sexual activity. Second, it can serve as an excuse repertoire for adolescents who engaged in unprotected sex and later experienced either pregnancy or a STD. Third, it may serve as an explanation for males who deceive their partners into having unprotected sex. The findings are discussed with regard to their implications for HIV or STD prevention and research.
Sznitman
Sharon R
SR
Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. ssznitman@asc.upenn.edu
Horner
Jennifer
J
Salazar
Laura F
LF
Romer
Daniel
D
Vanable
Peter A
PA
Carey
Michael P
MP
Diclemente
Ralph J
RJ
Valois
Robert F
RF
Stanton
Bonita F
BF
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult