A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY OF CONDOM USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 3,136 women attending family planning clin ics in Texas was conducted to examine past use of and future plans for use of condoms by partners during sexual intercourse for disease prev ention in conjunction with other contraceptive methods. Following the receipt of clinical services, including counseling about family planni ng and disease prevention, both contraceptive and planned condom use r eporting increased for the majority of subjects. However 22% of the sa mple indicated that they intended to reduce condom use in the future a nd instead use a contraceptive which protects from pregnancy but not f rom disease. Condom use was indicated more frequently for those who re ported at least one risk factor for HIV, but 17% of those at risk indi cated lower future condom use than past use. This suggests that withou t changes in risk behavior, these women will be at increased risk of H IV or another sexually transmitted disease.