CONDOM INTERVENTION WITH WOMEN
OVERVIEW
An intervention was developed to increase condom use among sexually active young women. In a random assignment study, female college students assigned to take part in the intervention were compared with female college students assigned to a control group. During the six weeks following the intervention, treatment women were significantly more likely than control women to carry condoms and to practice telling their partners to use condoms. Treatment women were not significantly more likely than control women to purchase condoms or to discuss condom use with their partners during this period. Among women who had intercourse during the six-week follow-up period, treatment women were significantly more likely than control women to have used a condom at last intercourse. This impact on condom use remained significant at the six-month follow-up.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
Target population: sexually active female college students
An intervention was developed to increase condom use among sexually active young women. The 45-minute intervention included lecture presentations, video-viewing, group discussion, and skill-building exercises.
The intervention began by encouraging young women to accept their sexuality and to be prepared for sexual activity. Participants were reminded that they could decide whether and when to have sex, what specific sexual acts they would engage in, and what steps they would take to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases.
In line with the Health Belief Model, participants were alerted to their susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases, including Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Condom use was presented as the best method, barring abstinence, for preventing the spread of many STDs.
In order to increase participants' self-efficacy for condom use, the intervention addressed women's ability to obtain condoms, to tell a partner to use a condom, to respond to partner dissatisfaction, and to put on condoms. To this end, participants watched a video about purchasing condoms, were given condoms to keep, role-played partner discussions about condoms, and practiced putting condoms on penile models.
EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM
Bryan, A. D., Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1996). Increasing Condom Use: Evaluation of a Theory-Based Intervention to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Young Women. Health Psychology, 15(5), 371-382.
Evaluated population: 198 unmarried female
undergraduates at
Approach: Subjects were randomly assigned to the treatment group or to the control group. Subjects assigned to the treatment group took part in the 45-minute safer-sex intervention in groups of 8-12 students. Subjects assigned to the control group took part in a 45-minute stress management intervention in groups of 8-12 students. Both interventions were run by a female graduate student.
All subjects were surveyed on their sexual behavior before taking part in the intervention, immediately after taking part in the intervention, six weeks after the intervention, and six months after the intervention.
Results: Immediately after completing the intervention, subjects were surveyed on their condom-related attitudes and intentions. Compared with control subjects, treatment subjects reported significantly greater intentions to use condoms, and better condom use self-efficacy, and condom-related attitudes. Treatment subjects did not significantly differ from control subjects on perception of susceptibility to STDs or perception of the severity of STDs, however.
During the six weeks following the intervention, treatment women were significantly more likely to carry condoms than control women. (This effect was moderate in sized.) Treatment women were also significantly more likely to practice telling their partners to use condoms. (This effect was small.) Treatment women were not significantly more likely than control women to purchase condoms or to discuss condom use with their partners during this period.
During the six months following the intervention, treatment women were not significantly more likely than control women to purchase condoms, carry condoms, or discuss condom use with their partners.
However, in a non-experimental analysis of women who had intercourse during this six-month period, treatment women were significantly more likely than control women to have used a condom at last intercourse at 6 weeks and at 6 months. (These effects were small-to-moderate in size.)
SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
Curriculum materials unavailable for purchase.
References:
Bryan, A. D., Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1996). Increasing Condom Use: Evaluation of a Theory-Based Intervention to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Young Women. Health Psychology, 15(5), 371-382.
Program categorized in this guide according to the following:
Evaluated participant ages: 18+
Evaluated participant grades: college students
Program age ranges in the guide: youth
Program components: school-based or clinic/provider-based
Measured outcomes: teen pregnancy and reproductive health
KEYWORDS: Youth (16+), Young Adulthood (18-24), Life Skills Training, College, School-based, Self Efficacy, Behaviors, Condom Use, Gender-specific (female only), Hispanic or Latino, African American or Black, Caucasian or White, Asian, Native American or American Indian, Reproductive Health, Risky Sex, STD/HIV/AIDS
Program information last updated on 10/8/07.
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© Child Trends 2003 |
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