Attitudes, knowledge, and behavior regarding condom use in urban black adolescent males

This study was conducted to determine male adolescent behavior, attitudes, and knowledge concerning the use of condoms. Subjects were 241 sexually active black adolescent males attending an inner-city adolescent medicine clinic who were surveyed using a structured interview technique. Factors associated with condom use included higher grade level, > or = 2 sexual partners in the past six months, communication about contraception with sexual partner(s), desire for sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention when contracepting, and parental suggestion to use condoms. Variables not associated with condom use included older age, minimal level of knowledge about condom use, history of having impregnated a partner or of having contracted an STD, desire for pregnancy prevention, suggestion by friends to use condoms, or partner dissatisfaction with condoms. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following variables in combination were able to correctly classify respondents as condom users or nonusers in 74% of cases: higher knowledge score, reported communication about contraception with one's partner(s), > or = 2 partners in the past six months, and higher socioeconomic status. These findings suggest that, for the study population, interventions directed toward improving knowledge about condoms, school achievement, and communication with parents and partners may be effective in increasing condom use.