Condom Use in Incarcerated Adolescent Males: Knowledge and Practice

Noting that "information is limited on how well adolescents use condoms and where they learn how," the researchers set out "to determine how often incarcerated males used condoms incorrectly and where, how, and from whom they learned condom use."

Information was obtained through an interviewer-administered survey during intake physicals at a juvenile detention center. Condoms use models were not used; results were based on self-report by 141 males.

Errors reported by the subjects included failure to secure the condom to the penis during withdrawal (37 percent), loss of erection before condom removal (18 percent), and not leaving space at the end of the condom (14 percent). The males reported learning condom use at home (27 percent), school (23 percent), probation/detention facilities (14 percent) and community programs (3.4 percent) from educators/counselors (37 percent), family members (27 percent) and friends (6.9 percent). Methods of learning included package insert (45 percent), demonstrations (39 percent), explanations (33 percent) and media (19 percent).

The researchers found the adolescents studied "had relatively few condom errors. Common methods of learning correct condom use included observing a demonstration, reading the package insert, and hearing an explanation. The last 2 methods are easy to implement," they concluded.

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