Abstract
Although the dual function of condom use (preventing pregnancy and preventing STDs) is well known, little is known about the determinants of condom use for STD prevention when contraception is not an issue. We compared two intentions to use condoms with a new sex partner: one based on a vignette not mentioning pregnancy risk and one on a vignette explicitly stating there was no risk of pregnancy. We also investigated whether intentions to use condoms change when there is no pregnancy risk, to allow such changes to be predicted from an STD risk-perception perspective. This cross-sectional survey was completed by 151 undergraduate students. The correlation coefficient between the two intentions about condom use approached zero (0.02; p=.783). Logistic regression showed that two STD risk-perception variables distinguished between consistent and non-consistent reporters of their intention to use condoms. Findings are discussed from the perspectives of policy, methodology and theory.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to express their great appreciation of the technical support provided by Patrick Ahles and Leon Kolenburg in the data collection procedures. We are also grateful to Kim Ensinck and Anita Vermeer for their assistance in preparing the data analyses, and to Madelief Bertens for her literature search. Thanks are also due to Mary Gillmore and three anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on an earlier version of this paper. Finally we would like to thank Thurstan Robinson and Jan Klerkx for improving our English expression.
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Appendix 1
Appendix 1
The original Dutch texts of the vignettes used to assess measure the dependent variables were as follows:
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Vignette 1, offering no information about contraception: “Stel dat je over een tijdje voor de eerste keer met een nieuwe partner naar bed wilt, en die nieuwe partner wil dat ook, ben je dan van plan een condoom te gebruiken?”
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Vignette 2, offering information about contraception by stating that there is no risk of pregnancy: “Stel dat je deze zomer iemand ontmoet die je echt geweldig vindt. En omgekeerd blijkt dat net zo te zijn. Stel dat jullie met elkaar naar bed willen. Om wat voor reden dan ook is er geen kans op zwangerschap (vanwege pilgebruik, zelfde sekse). Ben je dan van plan een condoom te gebruiken?”
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Hoefnagels, C., Hospers, H.J., Hosman, C. et al. One Measure, Two Motives. Prediction of Condom Use and Interaction Between Two Prevention Goals Among Heterosexual Young Adults: Preventing Pregnancy and/or Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Prev Sci 7, 369–376 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-006-0048-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-006-0048-z