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#41 International Poster Session - CSE |
Monday, August 13, 2007 |
5:00 PM–6:30 PM |
Level 4 Lobby |
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15. Condom Use, Attitudes, and Promotion among First-Year University Students. |
Area: CSE; Domain: Service Delivery |
LOUIS S. LELAND JR. (University of Otago), Johanna Ilona Dean (University of Otago), Rosalina Richards (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Otago) |
Abstract: We looked at the development of effective condom promotions for young adults in two ways: Firstly, by investigating determinants of the use or avoidance of condoms; secondly, we evaluated an existing safer-sex intervention, that employs theoretical constructs that have proved successful applied to other behaviours - i.e. increasing desirable behaviours by providing the relevant behavioural stimulus and decreasing the effort it takes to comply. Eighty-eight first-year university students completed two anonymous questionnaires. Fifty participants reported having received a Health Promotions Centre-produced Get A G.R.I.P. pack at orientation five months prior to the study, while 38 had not. These packs contained (among other things), information on safer-sex and a sample condom. Results suggested that Get A G.R.I.P. packs were an effective way to increase the use of condoms. Sexually active participants were more likely to report using a condom for first sexual intercourse, after receiving a pack than were those who did not receive one. Condom use was not found to be specifically associated with attitudes towards condoms, but was predicted by perceived risk of STDs. Attitudes towards condoms were found to differ by gender only on one domain: women were more favourable about condoms in terms of ‘Ease of Use’. |
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