Descriptive norms about condom use predict odds of using a condom during last sexual experience in a large, national survey of adolescents from Australia
Molly McCarthy
A , Sylvia Kauer B * and Christopher Fisher B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Division of Occupational Therapy Education, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Allied Health Professions, 984000 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4000, USA.
B La Trobe University, Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health and Society, Building NR6, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.
C Victoria University, College of Health and Biomedicine, 300 Flinders Street, Level 10, Suite 10.62, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
Sexual Health 19(3) 157-163 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH21193
Submitted: 30 September 2021 Accepted: 18 March 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Background: Reducing sexually transmitted infections among adolescents is an important public health goal in Australia and worldwide. This study estimated the association between condom use during last heterosexual sexual experience with two descriptive norms among a large, national sample of secondary school students from Australia.
Methods: A large, national online survey of 14- to 18-year-olds in Australia was conducted in 2018; a sub-analysis of sexually active participants (n = 2989) used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the relationships between condom use during last sexual experience and condom use norms. The analysis controlled for the effects of age, sex, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, remoteness and knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases.
Results: Overall, 1673 (56.0% [95% confidence interval: 54.2%, 57.8%]) sexually active respondents reported using condoms during their last sexual experience. Perceiving that all same-age peers used condoms conferred higher odds of using condoms during their last heterosexual sexual experience (adjusted odds ratio: 3.06 [95% CI: 1.6, 6.0]). Perceptions about whether the suggestion to initiate condom use came from boys, girls, or both boys and girls was not associated with condom use. Differences in condom use related to socio-demographic characteristics are reported.
Conclusions: As part of a holistic approach to sexuality education, health educators and service providers may emphasise that young people frequently choose to use condoms.
Keywords: adolescents, Australia, condoms, condom use, descriptive norms, logistic regression social norms, Theory of Planned Behaviour.
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