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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
John E. Anderson, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30030, 404-639-1901, jea1@cdc.gov
Background. Prevention programs seek to increase the use of condoms among persons whose behavior puts them at risk of acquiring or transmitting STDs including HIV. Research has been limited because of the lack of an ongoing survey of adults measuring condom use and STD and HIV risk behaviors at regular, frequent intervals. Objectives. To measure condom use among U.S. adults, and to assess the degree of condom use by persons at increased risk for STDs and HIV. Methods. Using data from the 1996, 1998 and 2000 General Social Survey (GSS), a national, household-based survey of adults in the U.S., rates of condom use at last sex were computed by type of sex partner, major demographic and STD/HIV risk characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with condom use. Results. The GSS data indicate that one in five adults used condoms at last sex. There was no indication of a trend toward greater condom use during 1996-2000. With non-regular partners 42.9% percent used condoms (95% confidence interval, 36.4-49.4%) , compared with 17.5 % (15.1-19.0%) with regular partners. Persons reporting sex and drug-related risk behaviors were more likely to use condoms. However, most at-risk persons did not use condoms with regular partners. Conclusions. The majority of adults who are at risk for HIV and other STDs are putting their regular sex partners at risk by not using condoms. Promotion of condom use with regular partners of at-risk persons should be a priority for prevention programs.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Condom Use, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.