 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Jennifer Broad, MPH, Cristal Simmons, MPH, and Thad Zajdowicz, MD, MPH, FACP. STD/HIV Prevention and Care Program, Chicago Department of Public Health, 530 E. 31st Street, Chicago, IL 60616, 312-747-0185, jenbroad@worldnet.att.net
OBJECTIVE: To describe condom use among the Chicago Department of Public Health STD clinic population for 2002.
METHODS: Condom usage was examined using a public medical record database.
RESULTS: There were approximately 42,000 visits (59% male) to the Chicago Department of Public Health STD clinics in 2002. Adolescent (10-19 years) males reported less condom use than females (9% versus 28%). When looking at risk factors for HIV, 13% of MSM reported never using condoms. Of those who reported anal receptive sex, 11% of men never used a condom versus 34% of women. Among those who identified as having sex with someone with HIV/AIDS, 11% of men and 21% of women reported condom use 100% of the time. The same proportion of men and women (36%) with a history of gonorrhea reported using condoms <50% of the time. Less than one-third of women who used no form of contraception also report no condom use.
DISCUSSION: This study supports the conclusion that people are becoming complacent about STDs and HIV/AIDS. There are gender variations in condom usage as well as a pattern of disregard, even when the person is engaging in risky sexual practices. With increasing rates of syphilis and HIV co-infection, it is important for the full benefits of condom utilization to be understood. Further efforts are needed to determine a new way to get the condom message to the public.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Condom Use, Sexual 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.