title: High and low contraceptive use amongst young male offenders: a qualitative interview study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are high rates of fatherhood and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young incarcerated men. Here we focus on a sample of men incarcerated in a Scottish Young Offender Institution, analysing their accounts of their contraceptive use. Those who report low or no use of contraception are compared with those who report high use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews with 40 young male offenders, aged 16-21 years. Participants were purposively sampled using answers from a questionnaire administered to 67 inmates. Data from those men (n=31) reporting either high (n=14) or low/no use (n=17) of contraception are analysed here.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low users emphasise their desire for pleasure and appear fatalistic about both pregnancy and disease prevention. High users report a strong desire to protect themselves and their 'manliness' by using condoms to avoid the risk of STIs and, to a lesser extent, pregnancy. Both sets of men present themselves in a traditionally masculine way, with high users emphasising power, authority and self-control to justify their non-risk-taking contraceptive behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The masculine narrative regarding self-protection, utilised by the high users, may be an effective method of intervention with potential and actual low users. Conventional masculinity valorises risk-taking but if particular forms of risk avoidance - condom use - can be legitimised as confirming one's masculinity it may be possible to persuade low users to adopt them. The opportunity to work with young men whilst incarcerated should be grasped.
authors.affiliation: Senior Investigator Scientist, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buston
authors.affiliation: Senior Investigator Scientist, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parkes
authors.affiliation: Programme Leader, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wight
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012606:Scotland; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: condom; qualitative research; sexually transmitted infections; teenagers
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