Associations between rushed condom application and condom use errors and problems.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether any of four condom use errors/problems occurred more frequently when condom application was 'rushed' among a clinic-based sample from three US states.


METHODS
A convenience sample (n=512) completed daily electronic assessments including questions about condom use being rushed and also assessed condom breakage, slippage, leakage and incomplete use.


RESULTS
Of 8856 events, 6.5% (n=574) occurred when application was rushed. When events involved rushed condom application, the estimated odds of breakage and slippage were almost doubled (estimated OR (EOR)=1.90 and EOR=1.86). Rushed application increased the odds of not using condoms throughout sex (EOR=1.33) and nearly tripled the odds of leakage (EOR=2.96). With one exception, all tests for interactions between gender and rushed application and between age and rushed application were not significant (p values>0.10).


CONCLUSIONS
This event-level analysis suggests that women and men who perceive that condom application was rushed are more likely to experience errors/problems during the sexual event that substantially compromise the protective value of condoms against disease and pregnancy. Educational efforts emphasising the need to allow ample time for condom application may benefit this population.
College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Richard
R
Crosby
Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA Department of Psychology, Southampton University, Southampton, UK.
Cynthia
C
Graham
Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Robin
R
Milhausen
Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Stephanie
S
Sanders
Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
William
W
Yarber
Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Lydia A
LA
Shrier
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
CONDOMS; PREGNANCY; SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR; SEXUAL HEALTH