DETERMINANTS OF CONDOM USE BY AUSTRALIAN SECONDARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS

Purpose: To identify factors that are associated with condom use to ai d in the understanding of how to change the behavior of those young pe ople who have sex without using condoms. Methods: The article reports data from 932 sexually active grade 10-12 students from a sample of 72 public secondary schools in seven Australian states and territories. The data were collected using a cross-sectional, self-report questionn aire. Results: Boys were more likely than girls to report that a condo m was used the last time they had sex. For boys and girls, communicati on with a partner about avoiding infection with HIV/STDs, the belief t hat more peers use condoms, and a higher perceived risk of becoming in fected with HIV/STDs were associated with using a condom, as was lower knowledge of STDs. The use of oral contraception and the unavailabili ty of condoms were reported by the students as prominent reasons for n on-use of condoms. Number of sexual partners in the past year and type of relationship with partner on the most recent occasion were not ass ociated with condom use. Conclusions: Adolescents are more concerned w ith unwanted pregnancy than with disease prevention. School students m ore at risk are not more likely to take the necessary precautions to p rotect themselves from HIV/STDs.