A. Spruyt et al., IDENTIFYING CONDOM USERS AT RISK FOR BREAKAGE AND SLIPPAGE - FINDINGSFROM 3 INTERNATIONAL SITES, American journal of public health, 88(2), 1998, pp. 239-244
Objectives. This study examined whether past condom failure (breakage,
slippage, or both) can predict future failure and evaluated other pre
dictors of condom failure. Methods. At each of 3 international sites,
approximately 130 male condom users were enrolled and given 5 condoms
to use for vaginal intercourse over a 3-week period. Results. Men at i
ncreased risk (history of 1 or more condoms that broke or-slipped off)
reported approximately twice as many condom failures as those not in
this group. Condom failure increased with the number of adverse condom
use behaviors reported per participant. Opening condom packages with
sharp objects and unrolling condoms before donning were associated wit
h breakage. Unrolling condoms before donning and lengthy or intense in
tercourse were associated with slippage. Of background characteristics
evaluated, having less education was associated with condom failure.
Conclusions. These data suggest that a history of condom failure predi
cts future failure, a finding that may be useful for targeted interven
tion. Moreover, these data provide further evidence that certain behav
iors and lower educational attainment are associated with condom failu
re.