SHOULD CONDOM USE BE PROMOTED FOR CONTRACEPTION TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION OF SEXUAL TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND AIDS

Background: This study is an exploration of the relationship between t he use of oral contraceptive or intrauterine device and condom use. Th e results should help us better understand how promoting condoms for c ontraception as compared to sexually transmitted disease prophylaxis m ight be an effective way of increasing their use in certain population s. Methods : Women not involved in stable relationships were selected from the French National Survey on Sexual Behaviour using multi-stage probability sampling, We compared frequency of condom use at the last sexual intercourse by women who were using prescribed contraception wi th that by women who did not. Odds ratios (OR) were adjusted for age, duration of the relationship, education, type of partner and number of partners in the last 12 months. Results : Overall, no difference was found in the frequency of condom we during the last sexual intercourse by women who were using prescribed contraception compared with women who were not. A more frequent use of condoms tended to be associated w ith the absence of contraception in relationships of less than three m onths' duration (adjusted OR : 4.5; 95 % CI : 0.7-33.3) and for women of 25 to 34 years of age (adjusted OR : 2.4; 95 % CI : 08-7.1). Conclu sion : Many factors other than contraceptive practice influence the us e of condoms. Nevertheless, our results suggest that reproductive issu es should be taken into account in specific subgroups of the populatio n when developing policies to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.