title: Safer sex and condom use: a convenience sample of Aboriginal young people in New South Wales.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper examines condom use in a sample of Aboriginal young people in New South Wales (NSW) aged 16-30 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were collected using hand-held computer devices from 293 Aboriginal people attending two Aboriginal events in NSW.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost two-thirds of respondents reported having had a casual sex partner in the previous 6 months. Of these, 39.2% reported always using a condom with casual partners. Having always used a condom with casual partners varied among respondents, and was more likely among younger respondents (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-6.1) and less likely among those who used illicit drugs (AOR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1-0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comparison to published studies of other Australians, casual sex appears to be more common among this sample of Aboriginal young people; however, the proportion who report having always used condoms with casual partners is very similar. This suggests that although casual sex is more common, Aboriginal young people do not engage in risky behaviour any more often than other young Australians. Further work should be conducted with those who do not always use condoms, such as those who are older and who use illicit drugs, particularly with regards to how abstinence from drug use supports protective behaviours such as condom use among this population of Aboriginal young people.
authors.affiliation: National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. j.bryant@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Worth
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: Sarina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solar
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014600:Utilization Review; D055815:Young Adult