ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CONDOM EXPERIENCES AND BELIEFS, INTENTIONS, AND USE IN A SAMPLE OF URBAN, LOW-INCOME, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH

This paper discusses negative experiences with using condoms reported by the condom user subsample of(n = 975) of a household probability sa mple of low income, urban, African-American and Hispanic youth. Condom users were asked about 12 specific experiences with condoms. Although the pattern of the association varied with the particular belief and experience, it appeared that, overall, having had a negative experienc e increased the likelihood that the user would agree with a negative b elief about condoms (p less than or equal to .005). In addition, users who had experienced a condom making it hard to move in and out of the vagina or anus were less Likely both to intend to use a condom and to have used a condom at last intercourse (p less than or equal to .005) . Condom use was also less likely if the user had experienced condoms interrupting lovemaking or reducing feeling or sensation.