title: Predicting condom use in young women: demographics, behaviours and knowledge from a population-based sample in Brazil.
abstract: The goal of this study was to assess condom use and related behaviour in young women in Vitória, Brazil. From March to December 2006, a cross-sectional sample of women aged 18-29 years was recruited into a population-based study. Risk behaviours for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were surveyed. Condom use at last intercourse was assessed as a principal outcome describing protective sexual behaviour. Of 1200 eligible women identified, 1029 (85.8%) enrolled. Among them, 904 (87.9%) reported a history of sexual activity. Only 36.6% reported condom use at last intercourse; those who did were more likely to report commercial sex work (odds ratio [OR] 9.01 [1.46-55.55]), to state that STI prevention was a primary reason for using condoms (OR = 6.84 [4.81-9.71]), to have been previously diagnosed with an STI (OR = 2.39 [1.36-4.21]), to report that 'it is easy to tell a sexual partner they will not have vaginal/anal sex without a condom' (OR = 2.30 [1.56-3.39]), to report that sexual intercourse is only risky when people have anal sex (OR = 1.98 [1.22-3.22]); and less likely to be married (OR = 0.65 [0.54-0.78]), and to find it difficult to use condom consistently in all sexual encounters (OR = 0.36 [0.25-0.52]). Women who reported condom use were more concerned with preventing STIs, and to report less difficulty insisting on condom use with partners.
authors: Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Maruípe, Vitória, Brazil. espinosa@ndi.ufes.br
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Miranda
authors: N C
authors: NC
authors: Figueiredo
authors: W
authors: W
authors: McFarland
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Schmidt
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Page
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult