Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
Volume 20, Issue 6 , Pages 339-343, December 2007

Condom Misuse Among Adjudicated Girls: Associations with Laboratory-Confirmed Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

  • Richard Crosby, PhD

      Affiliations

    • College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Richard Crosby, PhD, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, 121 Washington Ave. Room 111C, Lexington, KY 40506-0003
    • ,
  • Laura F. Salazar, PhD

      Affiliations

    • College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
    • ,
  • Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
    • Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Atlanta, Georgia
    • Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
    • ,
  • William L. Yarber, HSD

      Affiliations

    • Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
    • Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Bloomington, Indiana
    • Applied Health Science and Gender Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
    • ,
  • Angela M. Caliendo, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Atlanta, Georgia
    • ,
  • Michelle Staples-Horne, MD

      Affiliations

    • Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Decatur, Georgia, USA

Abstract 

Objectives

To identify the prevalence of condom use errors among detained female teens and to test two inter-related hypotheses concerning condom failure.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 134 female teens recruited within eight detention facilities. Measures were collected using audio-computer assisted self-interviewing. Assessment for the presence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae was also conducted.

Results

Five forms of condom use errors/problems were common: not discussing condom use with the partner (34.3%), not having a condom when one was desired (48.5%), starting sex before application (21.6%), removing condoms before sex concludes (26.9%), and breakage (32.8%). Significant, associations were found between condom errors/problems and drug/alcohol use. Errors/problems with condom use were significantly higher among teens diagnosed with an sexually transmitted disease (STD) (P = 0.039 for an index measure; P = 0.022 for a single-item measure).

Conclusions

Findings suggest that detained female teens may have experienced multiple condom use error and problems thereby increasing their vulnerability to STD acquisition.

Key Words: STDs, Female Teens, Condoms, Adjudication

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 Funding: This research was supported, in part, by the Emory Center for AIDS Research (NIH/NIAID 2 P30 AI50409-04A1).

PII: S1083-3188(07)00293-8

doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2007.09.001

Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
Volume 20, Issue 6 , Pages 339-343, December 2007

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