Study: Why U.S. teens don't use condoms

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Teens who don't use condoms are more likely to believe condoms reduce sexual pleasure and are concerned about partner condom approval, U.S. researchers said.

Researchers at the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center in Providence, R.I., and three other institutions surveyed more than 1,400 adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 21 who had unprotected sex in the previous 90 days.

Study participants in Atlanta, Miami and Providence completed an audio computer-assisted interview to gather information about sexual risk behaviors including condom use within the previous 90 days. The survey participants included 797 females and 613 males, approximately half were African-American, 24 percent were Hispanic and 19 percent were white.

Nearly two-thirds of adolescents did not use a condom the last time they had sex. Participants also reported an average of two partners and about 15 incidents of unprotected sexual activity within the 90-day period.

"It's clear that we have to address these attitudes, fears and concerns that many teens have regarding condom use, if we want to reduce their risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection," lead author Dr. Larry K. Brown of the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center.

The findings appear in the September/October issue of Public Health Reports.